Portland, Ore. Firefighter Remove Body From Meat Machine

April 29--State authorities are investigating the death of a cleaning contractor who fell into a mechanical blender late Friday at a large Clackamas-area meat-processing plant with a troubled history.

Oregon OSHA investigators are examining evidence, interviewing witnesses and reviewing records in the death of Hugo Avalos-Chanon, 41, of Southeast Portland, who was declared dead shortly before midnight at Interstate Meat Distributors Inc. Avalos-Chanon worked for DCS Sanitation Management Inc., which is contracted to clean meat-processing equipment daily at Interstate Meat Distributors, 9550 S.E. Last Road.

Inspectors with the state Occupational Safety and Health Division cited Interstate Meat in October, after finding that machinery in the meat-grounding room wasn't properly locked down during cleaning. Inspector said an "unexpected start-up of the machine" could cause injuries.

However, Melanie Mesaros, Oregon OSHA spokeswoman, said the October report may not be connected to Avalos-Chanon's death. "It's way too early to say," Mesaros said. "We're just starting our investigation, which could take six months."

Mesaros said the agency inspected DCS Sanitation Management's operations in 2001, 2002 and 2004, finding no violations.

Darrin Hoy, president of Interstate Meat Distributors, said company officials are cooperating fully with investigators, but said Avalos-Chanon's death was "extremely unfortunate" and difficult to discuss. "We're not looking forward to reliving through any of it again," Hoy said.

There was no interruption of business, and the plant remains open, Hoy said.

Tom Murray, chief executive officer of DCS Sanitation Management, could not be reached for comment.

Clackamas County sheriff's deputies and Clackamas Fire District 1 paramedics were called around 11:45 p.m. Friday, after Avalos-Chanon was found entangled in a blender, which regulates the fat content of ground meat. The following day, firefighters returned to help dismantle the machinery and extricate Avalos-Chanon's body.

Dr. Cliff Young, a deputy state medical examiner, said Avalos-Chanon died from "blunt-force injuries and chopping wounds."

Police said no foul play is suspected. Trauma Intervention Program counselors visited to work with Avalos-Chanon's fellow employees

Interstate Meat Distributors, in business for 42 years, employs 120 on a 3.6-acre site. The company sells mostly to grocery stores, Hoy said.

The company was the target of a consumer alert in 2007, when potentially deadly E.coli bacteria was traced to Interstate Meat's ground beef. In 2003, the company unwittingly distributed ground beef from a dairy cow found to have mad-cow disease.

Mesaros said an accident occurred at the plant in 2005, but the records were not readily available Monday.

-- Rick Bella