Home > Accident > Another Cintas Worker Dies After Falling Into Industrial Dryer

Another Cintas Worker Dies After Falling Into Industrial Dryer

October 31, 2011 at 12:30 pm by Morbid

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – I am still recuperating from a weekend full of pulled pork and Evan Williams, so bear with me as I fumble through a few stories on my favorite day of the year. Starting with one out of Louisville in which another Cintas worker suffered a horrible fate after getting stuck inside an industrial dryer.

Reports are that 55-year-old Kevin Burgess arrived to work early Friday morning and began working on an industrial dryer before any of the other employees arrived. Investigator are not sure how, but Burgess fell through the top of the dryer while it was running. They believe the machinery may have jumped started, knocking him in. He was in there for almost 30 minutes until a co-worker came into work and found him. Sadly, Burgess died from multiple blunt force injuries.

Burgess would have not been able to free himself on his own, due in part to the doors closing automatically once the dryer is started and the fact that are no safety mechanisms to stop the dryer in this particular circumstance. Cintas corporate offices sent out a statement, which reads: “Cintas is devastated to have learned about the accident that took the life of one of our employee-partners at our uniform rental facility in Louisville overnight. Our deepest heartfelt sympathy is extended to the family. A thorough investigation has begun to determine the cause of this accident.”

Some of you may remember another case in which a Cintas worker died in the same fashion. Back in 2007, Eleazar Torres-Gomez was pulled into an industrial dryer at a Cintas facility in Tulsa while trying to free up a conveyor belt jam. In that case, surveillance video shows the moment he was pulled into the machine. While Gomez was performing a technique that violated safety procedures, testimony and more surveillance footage showed that this was a common practice workers used at the facility.

OSHA would end up fining Cintas $3 million for that incident and the dead man’s family ended up suing.

Tags: Accident, Cintas, Crime, dryer, Kentucky, Kevin Burgess

56 Comments

Comments

V2 Cigs electronic cigarettes - Break Free From The Pack!

The views expressed in the comments are those of the comment writers and don't represent the views or opinions of D'D or its staff. Feel free to flag comments that may violate conditions outlined in our Disclaimer.

http://www.dreamindemon.com Count Rackula

Ugh, Morbid, just the mere mention of Evan Williams has the bile churning in my stomach. And it brings back so many drunken “memories.” God I will never drink that shit again.
Anonymous

Well we can rule out him using it as a hair dryer.

I do ponder why he would show up for work before any one else in order to perform some maintenance. Especially since he has been doing maintenance work there for several years prior, and would most certainly known of the safety risks involved.

Suicide…. “Pressed” for money?” Bank account “dried up?” Stocks took a “tumble”?
This case has too many wrinkles for my liking.
LeaveMeBe

So, had he shrunk any by the time they pulled him out or was it on the fluff cycle?
Anonymous

Count “Rackula” – love the play on words…assuming you are female and referring to “boobies”.

If not, please disregard this reply and I will recess quietly back into my overimaginative abstract happy place
Jemimabean

I’ve been scratching my head since the LAST mention of “pulled pork”- I really though it referred to masturbation. Thanks, Wikipedia!
guillotinegirl

That’s one way to get the wrinkles out of your clothes.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XKMAEMPVJ5T2Y35HKYTNG7I6SY Cedric

“Evan Williams” … I thought this was a woman … so … It’s some type of alcohol ?
Anonymous

tragedies such as these will continue until we – as industrialized nations – acknowledge the true human cost of working while clothed.
http://www.dreamindemon.com Count Rackula

Lol. Yes, it is referring to boobies. It is worth noting that I did not give myself this nickname, but I do love it all the same as it came from someone special. I love boobies, too; so there’s that.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XKMAEMPVJ5T2Y35HKYTNG7I6SY Cedric

Never mind – I Googled it.Hmm … Black Label Bourbon.
I don’t drink Bourbon,to me it taste like shit.
http://www.dreamindemon.com Count Rackula

It is one of the most disgusting brands of liquor ever. I’m dry heaving just thinking about it.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XKMAEMPVJ5T2Y35HKYTNG7I6SY Cedric

LOL.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XKMAEMPVJ5T2Y35HKYTNG7I6SY Cedric

WOW – You actually made that connection ? You must be one hell of a closet perv … I never would have got that,and I’m an out of the closet semi-perv.
LeaveMeBe

LMAO! I heart you Jemima. And I heart pulled pork.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XKMAEMPVJ5T2Y35HKYTNG7I6SY Cedric

I know the Mary Kay warehouse that I used to material handle at was something like 98% single women – I nominate that to be the first no clothing place of employment – soon as I get back into shape and they re-hire me …
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XKMAEMPVJ5T2Y35HKYTNG7I6SY Cedric

lmao … bad LeaveMeBe … bad …
http://www.facebook.com/rachel.a.prince Rachel Ann Prince

Glad to see I wasn’t the only one having flashbacks of the morning after Evan Williams. I swear one morning I seriously considered shooting myself, that’s how bad I felt.
LeaveMeBe

I liked this at first, but then had to unlike it. The thought of having to see my co-workers nekkid had my gag-reflex working over time and my eyes started burning.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XKMAEMPVJ5T2Y35HKYTNG7I6SY Cedric

Maybe he was a “Company Man”,you know – work,work,work.
Anonymous

I didn’t make the connection either. Very clever.
Anonymous

I am a full-fledged, life-time, magazine-suscribing member of the NAACP (North America Association of Closet Pervs).
http://www.facebook.com/rachel.a.prince Rachel Ann Prince

First off, Evan Williams is the devil. No questions asked. Secondly, industrial dryers that eat people? It really must be Halloween or that dryer is possessed and in that case someone needs to call Sam and Dean Winchester to slay that bitch.
Anonymous

No you didn’t??? I have family that lives in the south so I know what “pulled pork” is. But now I am left with the other image that I could have done without. LOL. TY for the sex ed.
Anonymous

LOL.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XKMAEMPVJ5T2Y35HKYTNG7I6SY Cedric

Just in case you don’t know – that is “one” definition of “pulled pork.”
So the question is – which way did Morbid intend his statement.
I honestly was unaware of a second meaning to this term until you posted – other than the “Got my lotion handy” one,that is.
Anonymous

Maybe…but sounds like the type of job that has you going in circles, and a bit rough and tumble, to boot.
Anonymous

Yes it does!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XKMAEMPVJ5T2Y35HKYTNG7I6SY Cedric

Ahh … this is the stuff Sloppy Joes are sometimes made with – if you don’t want to use beef.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XKMAEMPVJ5T2Y35HKYTNG7I6SY Cedric

I never knew that meat was actually called that … and I have had it before … now I don’t want to eat it because the name makes me think of some guy beating off.Damn,I am learning all kinds of stuff on this site … some good … some not so good.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XKMAEMPVJ5T2Y35HKYTNG7I6SY Cedric

LOL.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XKMAEMPVJ5T2Y35HKYTNG7I6SY Cedric

All jokes aside I feel sorry for this guy …
Optimus_past_my_Prime

This marks the occasion of my 100th comment on Dreamin’ Demon. Unfortunately I have no smart ass, insensitive things to say about this story as it is tragic…..just tragic. Back to Morbid and his being full of pulled pork and Evan Williams, as I know someone named Evan Williams. You weren’t full of him were you?
Anonymous

Lmao DD
Anonymous

How sad, they wait till people are killed before it dawns on them, to have a safety release.What a horrible death It reminds me of when my first hubby rescued a co-worker from being grinded by an industrial grinding machine.It caught the guys clothes and was pulling him into the machine.It had twisted his clothes completely off and started grinding his stomache.
Anonymous

OMG what this guy went through is what nightmares are made of. I cannot even joke about this one.
But it is an interestng read, thx Morbid.
Anonymous

Sorry I have a hard time feeling sorry for someone who violates Lock Out Tag Out. It is there for a reason.
Anonymous

IKR, me too. I never heard of pulled pork being another name for masturbation. I’ve always known it to be BBQ.
Anonymous

Well, I supposed Morbid needs to clear this up for us. I assumed he meant eating BBQ and drinking Evan Williams but knowing him, he probably meant the other “pulled pork”. LOL.
Hekate

MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE!!!! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!
Jemimabean

It’s not ACTUALLY a term for masturbation- I’m a Saffer so I had no idea, really, what pulled pork is (although Wikipedia has enlightened me and by God it looks delicious!) since it’s not something readily available for munching around this neck of the woods.

I was just thinking “porking” can be another term for having sex, so I assumed that “pulling pork” would be- oh, you know what, I’m not even going to go there again tonight. I think Morbid has inadvertently coined it, albeit unintentionally, in my dirty little mind. -that’s the sad face of a dwindling innocence, btw.
Jemimabean

It looks like slow- roasted gammon. I guess it’s much of the same thing.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Trisha-Doran/1055147616 Trisha Doran

Dang I assumed it had to do with boobies the first time I saw her name. Yay me!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Trisha-Doran/1055147616 Trisha Doran

And even if you did like bourbon, you wouldn’t like this!
Anonymous

I had to google Saffer, so I am really getting educated today.
http://justiceforcaylee.synthasite.com/ shyloh

People like to say RACK it’s shorter. As for me. I like saying my girls.. OK I am done.
Anonymous

If you’re actually comfortable with that idea and your eyeballs aren’t threatening to strike I want to work where you work.
http://justiceforcaylee.synthasite.com/ shyloh

I only have TWO BOOBIES, and you??? (.) (.)
Anonymous

Well, actually, this is the second dryer death and they still haven’t fixed it. Perhaps it’s like The Mangler. If you’re reading this Stephen King a haunted or possessed dryer is my idea, my idea!
Anonymous

Thank you for the warning!
EveryVillainIsLemons

You know, most people prefer to use towels to dry off. There’s a reason that industrial dryers are meant for cloth only.
Anonymous

You never had Knob Creek then…it will change your mind about Bourbon….
LOL I work in a package store and Evan Wms Black is considered a generic Jack Daniels.
Anonymous

Time for Cintas to close up shop,when the attorneys and Osha get done with them they wont even have a clothesline…
Anonymous

Me too. My first guess was that it was slang derived from “sapphic,” and that she was unfamiliar with “pulled pork” because she’s a lesbian.

I think my definition is more entertaining. :-p
Anonymous

Evan Williams is the best priced whiskey you can buy especially if you are like me and just hammer shots down. It’s not like the other whiskies that have a similar price those ones you shouldnt even bother touching they will make you sick. Evan tastes like garbage but it gets the job done. I enjoy Wild Turkey 101, Jim Beam, Makers Mark, Jack Daniels, Evan Williams,Fighting Cock 103proof, Jameson, J&B ect. I like my whiskey but I cant allways afford the high end stuff so thats where my buddy Evan comes in. It only costs like $12-$13 for a liter and it wont turn your fun filled evening into an all night pukefest. “Unless your a pussy”
http://twitter.com/leaftheweed Leaf Evans

What a horrible way to die: Slowly beaten to death at high temp.
Anonymous

The crappy thing is they are probably happy this happened. They probably have a hefty life insurance sum coming to them.