TAYLOR, Texas — A new lawsuit claims a worker at the Samsung plant in Taylor was crushed during an incident earlier this month.
The worker, who lives in the San Antonio area, claims he was working at the plant as a sheet metal contractor when he was crushed by unsecured ductwork.
According to the lawsuit, a forklift operator hoisted heavy, unsecured ductwork in the air while the worker instructed where to place it. At some point, the ductwork shifted and fell onto the worker, leaving him with "catastrophic" injuries.
The lawsuit states the ductwork weighed more than 800 pounds, leaving the worker with a head injury, a crush injury to his abdomen, fractured ribs, a lacerated liver, structural damage to his knees and fractures to his legs.
In the lawsuit, the worker claims Samsung is aware of the failures and extreme risks inside the facility. He also claims he wasn't properly trained for the equipment he was required to use, adding that Samsung failed to secure the ducts and that they don't supervise or train workers.
He's now suing for $1 million in damages including pain and suffering, disfigurement, mental anguish and medical expenses.
Samsung says it is aware of the lawsuit despite not yet being served. Below is the full statement provided to KVUE:
Samsung Austin Semiconductor takes safety seriously. We just received a copy of the filing and have not been served. We are reviewing the details of the reported events. Our records indicate the individual at issue was a foreman working for a subcontractor at the Taylor site. We wish him a healthy recovery.