Two employees at NaturPak's pet food manufacturing facility in Janesville, Wisconsin, U.S., who were injured in a March 18 steam equipment explosion have died, the company confirmed March 24.
On March 25, the Rock County Medical Examiner's Department identified one victim as 55-year-old Roberto C. Martinez of Beloit, Wisconsin. His obituary noted he was a father and grandfather, and described him as a hard worker who prided himself on his work ethic.
The other victim was identified by WMTV as Alex Perkins. Friends say Perkins was a beloved coach in the cheer community in the local area.
Peter Duda, a crisis spokesperson for NaturPak, confirmed the deaths in a statement to the Janesville Gazette: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of two of our team members. We have extended our heartfelt condolences to the families and have reached out to offer our support during this difficult time."
It is unclear whether the two workers who died were the same individuals airlifted by helicopter to hospitals in Madison following the March 18 incident, the Gazette reported. NaturPak said it continues to cooperate with a federal safety investigation.
Second incident in 5 weeks
The March 18 explosion is the second industrial incident at the Janesville facility in five weeks. According to the Janesville Police Department, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is now investigating NaturPak following both incidents.
In the March 18 incident, two employees were flown to hospitals with life-threatening injuries and a third was transported by ambulance to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. On March 23, the Gazette reported that NaturPak had paused operations for one day before resuming normal operations March 24.
The earlier incident occurred February 11, when the Janesville Fire Department responded to an afternoon explosion "as a result of a steam over-pressurization," according to the department. One person was transported to a local hospital; a second was transported by MedFlight to the UW Hospital Burn Center in Madison.
The Janesville Police Department said managers at NaturPak provided "minimal cooperation" during investigations into both incidents. A police report indicated that a manager told employees to stop talking with law enforcement during the investigation during the February 11 incident.
OSHA is leading the investigation to determine the root cause of both incidents, evaluate compliance with workplace safety regulations and implement measures to prevent future occurrences, police said. It is unknown whether the two incidents are related.
NaturPak is a co-manufacturer of shelf-stable food for both human and pet nutrition. Pet products include shelf-stable, human-grade wet pet food. The company specializes in Tetra Recart cartons and offers end-to-end services including R&D, ingredient sourcing, and filling for brands seeking BPA-free, eco-friendly alternatives to cans and jars.
