A 48-year-old mechanic working at a Volvo plant in San Leandro was crushed to death by a tractor on Thursday, when the machine slipped from up on a track and fell on him.
He is the third Bay Area man to have died in the workplace in less than a week.
Cal-OSHA spokesman Peter Melton said that it's unclear just how the front-end wheel loader slipped off the track about 9:30 a.m. at the Volvo Construction and Equipment Services building at 1944 Marina Blvd in San Leandro. The company has no previous workplace violations. Melton said the man was a field service technician who lived in Castro Valley.
Volvo issued a statement by email after the death:
“We are aware of a tragic fatal accident at a facility owned by the company in California earlier today, our condolences and prayers are with the family at this time. At present we are trying to find out exactly what happened and are working with the relevant local authorities to do this. Work at facility was stopped immediately.”
On Feb. 7, two workers were killed in San Francisco when a piece of granite slab fell on them outside GGI Granite Company.
