Worker dies at Sampson pork plant

Clinton, N.C. — A worker at a Smithfield Foods pork packing plant in Clinton died over the weekend after apparently being overcome by fumes, police said Monday.

Brandon Christopher Taylor, 26, of High House Road in Clinton, was found dead about 12:35 a.m. Saturday with his head in the opening of a waste tanker at the Smithfield Packing plant at 424 E. Railroad St., company spokesman Dennis Pittman said.

Clinton police said a preliminary investigation showed that Taylor was cleaning out the tanker, was overcome by fumes and went into cardiac arrest.

Pittman said Taylor's body has been sent for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Investigators will test the air quality around the tanker to determine if any breathing apparatus was required for the work Taylor was doing, said Delores Quesenberry, spokeswoman for the state Department of Labor, which is investigating the death. It usually takes three to four months for the department to determine whether and workplace safety violations occurred that result in fines, she said.

Taylor, who was hired in 2010, worked in the wastewater department at the plant, Pittman said.

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Blessings to the family and friends of Brandon. He sounds like he was a wonderful person. Please be comforted in the days ahead by the fond memories of all he touched.

davido
February 21, 2012 4:04 p.m.

Yet another avoidable death among billions at the hands of Smithfield, this one a very young human. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones.

For "Pseudonym," brands to avoid if someone were to boycott Smithfield Packing include the following:

Farmland, Smithfield, Armour, Eckrich, John Morrell, Cook’s, Guraltney, Kretschmar, Curly’s, Carando, Margherita, and Healthy Ones

Better yet, avoid pig products altogether as coming from a largely inhumane industry. For help, visit http://www.chooseveg.com/

janetweeks5
February 21, 2012 11:45 a.m.

Please please please pray for this family. My friend Patsy buried her grandson right before Christmas in a horrible accident in which her grandson was killed by a neighbor;s child with a gun. Now she is burying her son. NOTHING supersedes the horror or pain of this. .. If you are not a praying person, at least send good thoughts and hope for better days for this family.