US Airways Employee Killed After Getting Lodged in Luggage Conveyor Belt
- Posted on February 18, 2012 at 12:21pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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A US Airways employee was killed Friday at a Phoenix airport after getting lodged in the luggage conveyor belt. (Image source: KNXV-TV)
A US Airways employee was killed Friday after he became lodged in the baggage handling system at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport, police said.
According to Phoenix’s Fox 10, 60-year-old Robert Demarco got entangled between the upper and lower conveyor belts of the luggage sorting system around noon. Phoenix Fire Department personnel were called and Demarco was pronounced dead.
“This appears to be a tragic accident and Phoenix Police detectives will be working hard to determine exactly how and why this incident occurred,” Officer James Holmes told Fox 10.
US Airways spokeswoman Michelle Moher said Demarco was a maintenance worker and had been with the company for several years. He was working on the baggage system when the accident occurred.
The airline is working with investigators to find out exactly what happened, Moher said. There are no indications of foul play.
Police said the incident happened out of public view.
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TexBork
Posted on February 19, 2012 at 11:53amThat’s about as gross as that guy that fell into the hot dog auger at the Bar S Hot Dog plant. Nice guy, horrible accident.
Report Post »TriforcePlayer
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 8:20pmGod Bless the family.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 7:47pmIf he was with the luggage; I‘m surprised they didn’t loose the body.
Report Post »hahawaitwhat
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 11:29pm@The-Monk: Really…someone dies and that is what you have to say about it? Wow!
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 2:10pmI hope people are happy when I die. I will be going to Heaven. What about you?
As a matter of fact my wife will be all smiles I am sure….for mant many reasons.
Report Post »Ilivewayupthere
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 2:07pmEvery safety talk starts with “Lock Out Tag Out”.
Report Post »You don’t work on energized equipment.
This is the reason. A shame someone has to die to prove it.
I see a large OSHA fine in USAir’s future.
Baddoggy
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 2:11pmYes…OSHA gets a bonus on thd death of a human being. Now that is sad!
Report Post »single stack
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 2:29pmOSHA doesn’t get the money from fines. It goes into the general fund per Section 17 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
Baddoggy, are a douche, or just trolling? …Oh wait, my bad, you’re a trolling douche. /
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 3:50pmGeneral fund…same thing. You think I am a troll? Look at my posts. I am here every single day…That makes you a troll and a lying douchebag to boot.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on February 20, 2012 at 2:43pmJust what I was thinking. This poor fellow may not have locked out and tagged out. Accidents like this happen every day in manufacturing operations. Most of the time it is not a fatality.
Report Post »In detroit
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 2:04pmThe U.S. Aviation business is going right down the toilet a week or so ago a 787 ran over a man on the tarmac , Im heading out to AZ next month I am driving NOT flying its just not safe anymore I am sad to say Ron Paul 2012 americas last hope if Dumbo is elected again America will surely fall may God bless you all
Report Post »TheBurningTruth
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 2:51pmYou are an idiot. Air travel is by far the safest way to travel for all involved. You’re worried about two accidents in the US, well if you counted all the auto accidents that happen every minute you’d never leave your house.
Looking at two accidents in an industry as large as the airline industry and concluding something as expansive as “it’s not safe anymore” shows just how ignorant and uneducated the American population really is. Enjoy your drive and dodging all the other idiots on the roads.
Report Post »robert
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 4:58pmIn detroit
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 2:04pm
“The U.S. Aviation business is going right down the toilet a week or so ago a 787 ran over a man on the tarmac , Im heading out to AZ next month I am driving NOT flying its just not safe anymore…..”
With me it isn’t a safety concern,but a hassle concern.
Personally I feel that anybody who elects to fly after being shaken down and abused by a bunch of government goons isn’t playing with a full deck.
The hassle is too much.
Report Post »DividedWeFail
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 1:54pmThin the herd
_
LOL
I love the hypocrisy of the people calling TSA and airport employees every name in book – SUDDENLY getting PIOUS and calling you out for stating the truth.
Too bad it wasn’t a baggage handler though since they steal much more than a repair maintenance guy or a Sky Nazi (airline attendants)
Report Post »whatthecrazy
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 1:44pm1001 ways to die …..you just never know.
Report Post »ADNIL
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 1:32pmBe sure to tell your spouse and your kids that you love them, everyday. Never leave for the day without doing this. You just never know.
Report Post »Silat
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 1:00pmHopefully he will see the Lord! God bless his family!
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 12:46pmSuch a tragic thing to happen. May he rest in peace.
I’ve been to Sky Harbour airport, it is a big hub so many bags can get stuck on the conveyors and many times the only way to fix the problem is to turn off the conveyor and crawl in to dislodge the jam. I wonder if someone came along and turned the conveyor back on not realizing he had crawled into the unit. This is where lockout tags are necessary.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 12:44pmSo very sad..
Will the hsa or tsa be involved in this? I can see twenty new gov’t jobs at every airport. To make us safer; to lower unemployment.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 12:42pmYou are disgusting. Bad doggy, Bad doggy.
Just remember when you pass, we just might be clapping also.
Report Post »single stack
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 12:42pmAs someone who performs maintenance in industrial plants during maintenance shutdowns I can tell you how this happened. Proper lockout/tagout procedures weren’t followed and someone started the equipment while he was in it.
Report Post »ThePostman
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 12:49pmThere’s a good chance you are right, or he might have been trying to work on it while it was operating, or he might have simply slipped and fell into the equipment.
Report Post »SageInWaiting
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 12:50pmThat was the first thing that came to my mind as well. I wonder how many of the luggage handlers around the system are trained in those safety policies.
Report Post »ADNIL
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 1:29pmThat was my first thought, also. A similar incident happened at a ski area I was working at. A maintenance worked got pulled through a shiv-train when he was working on the shivs. ( the wheels at the top of the lift towers upon which the cables ride). The lift wasn’t locked out. Someone came along and turned it on, not knowing. He wasn’t killed, but he lost his arm and shoulder. If it weren’t for the skill of the ski patrol, he would have died before he could get to the hospital.
Report Post »Claydawg
Posted on February 19, 2012 at 5:28amno….I was a co-worker with Bob. He tripped a photo eye and started the system. He didn’t cut the power. He was and is a good guy. RIP
Report Post »HK
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 12:38pmPrayers to him and his family.
Report Post »DD313
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 12:30pmWe wish to convey our deepest condolences.
Report Post »Oneirishman
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 12:34pmDude.
Report Post »DGeezy11
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 12:44pmI see what you did there…
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