Female employee dies after industrial workplace accident in Helena

Published 11:15 am Thursday, August 17, 2017

By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–One female has died after emergency personnel were dispatched to ABC Polymer Industries in Helena in regard to an industrial accident, according to the Helena Police and Fire Departments.

Shelby County 911 received an emergency call at 6:41 p.m., the evening of Aug. 16, where Helena Police and Fire units were immediately dispatched to the scene located at 545 Elm Street in Helena.

Upon arrival, responders found a female employee that had been pulled into an industrial machine. Fire medics determined that the victim was deceased and the Shelby County Coroner’s Office was notified.

Helena Police and the Coroner’s office are conducting an investigation into the events surrounding the death.

Helena Fire Capt. Chaed Agee said the federal government is now taking over the investigation.

“The investigation kicks over to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) because it’s an industrial workplace accident,” Agee said in an Aug. 17 phone interview.

ABC Polymer Industries is one of the largest suppliers of flexible intermediate bulk containers in North America as well as a manufacturer of polypropylene concrete fibers, according to the company website.