Police tape
Vernon California – A 19-year-old sanitation worker was killed late Sunday night after being pulled into a meat grinder at a frozen food plant in Vernon, California, in what officials are calling a horrific industrial accident. The teenager, who has not yet been publicly identified, was part of the after-hours cleaning crew at Tina’s Burritos, one of the nation’s largest producers of frozen Mexican food.
According to the Vernon Police Department, the incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. at the facility on the 2600 block of Vernon Avenue. The teenager was cleaning the meat grinder when the machine unexpectedly activated, pulling him inside.
Other employees on the sanitation crew reported hearing the young man’s screams and rushed to shut the equipment down, but were unable to stop the machine in time. When first responders arrived, the teen was already dead.
Vernon Police Sgt. Daniel Onopa said, Though an investigation remains ongoing, Vernon police have noted that there were no signs of foul play at the scene.
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has launched a formal investigation, which will include an assessment of the factory’s safety procedures, equipment compliance, and employee training protocols. Cal/OSHA investigators were on site Monday morning alongside the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which is also reviewing the circumstances surrounding the teen’s death.
Vernon, a heavily industrial city located just five miles south of downtown Los Angeles, has long been home to meatpacking plants and food processors. Tina’s Burritos, where the accident took place, is a prominent employer in the area. It produces tens of millions of burritos annually and distributes its products nationwide.
In a statement Monday, a representative for the City of Vernon expressed condolences: “Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and coworkers affected by this tragedy.”
The teen’s name has not been released pending notification of family. His death highlights ongoing concerns about the dangers faced by workers in industrial food processing plants, especially those on overnight shifts or in roles that involve cleaning large, high-powered machinery. Sanitation crews, often composed of temporary or low-wage workers, are routinely tasked with scrubbing and maintaining equipment that can become deadly if not properly locked out during cleaning.
While Cal/OSHA regulations require strict lockout-tagout procedures to ensure machines are fully deactivated before maintenance, enforcement and oversight can vary widely depending on the employer and the shift. It remains unclear whether such protocols were in place or followed at the time of the incident.
