MAPLETON, Maine — A 22-year-old Mars Hill man was nearly choked to death Wednesday morning when his clothes got caught in a bin piler machine at a potato house where he was working.
Maine State Police Sgt. Josh Haines commended the quick actions of co-workers for cutting Gregory Cousins loose from the machine, which uses conveyor belts to load potatoes into storage bins or trailer trucks.
Haines reported that Crown Ambulance was called at about 10:30 a.m. to the County Farms LLC potato house at 114 Castle Hill Road in Mapleton, where Cousins was working when his clothing became caught in the bin piler machine which pulled him in causing “serious asphyxiation type injuries around his neck.”
Cousins was transported to The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle, where he remained Wednesday evening, according to Haines.
Trooper Jared Sylvia investigated the accident and was assisted by Sgt. Josh Haines, Trooper Dan Marquis and an unnamed official from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Haines said no other information was available Wednesday evening.
best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Amen to that!
I know Greg through the Fire Department. My thoughts and prayers go out to Greg and his family, as well as wishes for a fast and full recovery.
Kudos to his quick thinking friends and workers. Thanks to all who responded and hope that the young man pulls through.
This calls for more federal oversight!!
I would ask for more people to be careful before I would ask for more federal oversight. I hope you were just jesting. Machinery is dangerous in whatever occupation you find yourself in and hopefully everyone who runs it is trained by the owner/operator. Some people seem to enjoy dragons breathing down your neck–be careful what you wish for!
God forbid there should be any safety standards that might protect workers in any industry.
There are many safety standards. Farm work is loaded with opportunities for injuries.The fishing, logging and farming businesses are far different than factory manufacturing.Work conditions can change very quickly. It dark, it’s light, it’s cold, it’s hot, it mud, it’s ice..on and on-the conditions are out of anyone’s control. OSHA, as well these farmers own insurance companies demand safety. In addition- many youngsters under the age of 18 are employed. It’s a never ending battle for safety and no one cares more than the farmers themselves.
Not as long as the GOP has it’s way.
Do you drink your Kool Aid with a sippy cup?
There are many safety standards in place for workers – it is then up to the worker to abide by them and to be watchful of the machinery. I’m not saying this young man is at fault, I am only responding to a comment.
You can have somebody operating equipment with all of the latest and greatest safety features there are and they will still get hurt. You can also have somebody operating an old dangerous piece of equipment with no, or very few, safety features and they will be just fine. For the most part, working safely is an attitude. Some people can develop this attitude over time, some just seem to naturally have it, while others just plain live on the edge, or don’t think things through. I work at a very dangerous job where the only person responsible for my safety is me. I’ve made it past 50 without any serious injuries, and not really any close calls. I’m all for making equipment safe, but ultimately, it’s the responsibility of the user to work safely
This is terrible! How scared this young man must of been. I hope he is going to be ok.
My prayers are with this young man and koodoos to the worker who saved his life, you are a hero.