Worker bled to death in conveyor accident - Moss Point - SunHerald ...

A maintenance worker at a Moss Point seafood plant died from blood loss, officials said.

Christopher Hebert, 24, was caught in a conveyor at Omega Protein on Monday, Jackson County Coroner Vicki Broadus said. He died from loss of blood related to his injuries, she said.

He died at the scene about 8:40 p.m.

Moss Point police and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating the accident.

Police have ruled Hebert's death accidental and no criminal charges will be filed.

"All indications right now is that it was a horrible accident," Police Chief Keith Davis said.

OSHA has up to six months to produce a final report and propose penalties if violations are found, said Michael Wald, regional director of the office of public affairs for the U.S. Department of Labor.

OSHA was at the Elder Ferry Road plant Tuesday.

"OSHA is inspecting to see if the employer violated any OSHA standards," Wald said.

He said records show the company has not had an inspection from OSHA in five years.

OSHA inspections may be conducted for one of several reasons, Wald said, such as part of a emphasis program for a specific hazard; after a higher-than-average number of injuries and illnesses; following severe past violations; if an OSHA compliance worker sees an immediate hazard; and in response to complaints about possible unsafe working conditions. Workplaces are also inspected after a worker dies or three or more workers are hospitalized from a single accident, he said.

Omega Protein is a nutritional-ingredient company that produces omega-3 fish oil and specialty fish-meal products. The plant and its adjacent shipyard employ about 300 people.

This was the first fatality for the company since the Sandy Point fishing boat sank in the Gulfport Ship Channel after it collided with the container ship Eurus London in May 2011. Three crew members died then.