Tragic Death of 16-Year-Old Boy at Mississippi Poultry Plant
HATTIESBURG, MISSISSIPPI – In a devastating incident, a 16-year-old boy lost his life while operating equipment at the Mar-Jac Poultry processing plant in Hattiesburg. The incident, which occurred on Friday, has left the community shocked and grieving for the young boy and his family.
Authorities have confirmed the preliminary details of the incident, including the boy’s age and the general circumstances surrounding his death. However, the teenager’s identity has not been disclosed. Forrest County Coroner Butch Benedict stated that a pathologist will determine the exact cause of death after reviewing the results of an autopsy, which was conducted on Tuesday. Benedict believes that the death was trauma-related and expects an official report to be released within a few days.
The boy has been identified by Guatemalan media as Duvan Pérez, who moved from Huispache, Guatemala, to Mississippi. According to NBC affiliate WDAM, Pérez’s tragic death has drawn attention to the dangerous working conditions that young employees may face.
Mar-Jac Poultry, a poultry production company headquartered in Gainesville, Georgia, operates the plant where the incident occurred. The company specializes in poultry processing and poultry slaughter. The U.S. Food and Inspection Service states that the plant received its mandatory federal inspection grant in April 2022.
The teenager worked as a sanitation employee at the plant, according to a news release from Mar-Jac Poultry. He sustained fatal injuries in an accident while conducting sanitation operations on Friday evening. The company expressed deep regret for the loss and offered sincere condolences to the boy’s family and friends. Joe Colee, the complex manager, emphasized that employee safety is their highest priority and that they are devastated whenever an employee is injured.
Mar-Jac Poultry stated that they are fully cooperating with the investigation conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) into the incident. They also assured that any issues identified during the investigation will be immediately addressed and corrected. The company stressed that they have a comprehensive safety program in place and regularly conduct training to ensure safe working conditions for all employees. Their thoughts and prayers go out to the employee’s family, friends, and co-workers.
The Mar-Jac Poultry plant in Hattiesburg is now under investigation by both OSHA and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. The Labor Department spokesperson confirmed that federal labor laws prohibit anyone under the age of 18 from working at slaughtering and meat packing plants or operating power-driven machinery in this field due to the hazards involved.
Child labor violations have seen a significant increase of 283% since 2015, according to a recent report by the Department of Labor. These findings come as several states have passed laws to weaken child labor restrictions.
CBS News contacted the Hattiesburg Police Department for more information regarding the incident but has not yet received a response.
The local community is now grappling with the tragic loss of a young life and hoping that this incident will lead to improved safety measures in the poultry industry to prevent similar incidents in the future.