CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — FleetPride said it has not resumed tank entry work anywhere in the company following the death of a Corpus Christi employee and is reviewing federal safety citations while working toward a resolution with OSHA.
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The company’s statement, released Thursday, comes after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited FleetPride for 16 serious safety violations and three other violations following its investigation into the January death of 63-year-old Juan Antonio Garza Jr.
Investigators said Garza died from asphyxiation while inspecting a tanker trailer at the company’s Corpus Christi facility.
OSHA alleges FleetPride failed to implement a confined space safety program, had deficiencies in its respiratory protection program and exposed workers to electrical hazards. The agency has proposed more than $260,000 in penalties.
In its statement, FleetPride called Garza’s death “a profound tragedy” and said the safety of its employees remains its top priority.
The company said it suspended all tank entry work across the company immediately after the incident and those operations have not restarted. FleetPride also said it is reviewing OSHA’s citations, has requested an informal settlement conference and remains committed to working with the agency on an appropriate resolution.
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