Mother Says Robot|Killed Her Son

DALLAS (CN) - An industrial oven's robot arm pinned a man to a conveyor and killed him, the man's mother claims in court.

Elaine Cox, of Garland, sued Atlanta-based CMS Bakery Products in Dallas County Court.

Cox says her son, Raymond W. Randall III, a maintenance technician, was fixing a jammed conveyor chain on an automatic baking oven at the defendant's plant.

"Suddenly and without warning, the chain releases and the robotic arm, which was stationary, resumes operation and traps and pins Raymond on the conveyor," the complaint states. "Raymond suffers mechanical asphyxia and multiple blunt force trauma injuries which result in his death."

Cox claims CSM failed to provide Randall and his coworkers adequate training, tools and equipment to perform the work safely, and did not enforce lockout or tag-out procedures.

CSM is one of the largest baking manufacturers in the country, with 14 factories and 3,500 employees, according to its website.

It produces brands including Brill, Best Brands, Henry & Henry, Multifoods, and Fantasia.

Cox seeks actual and punitive damages for negligence, wrongful death and Labor Code violations. She is represented by H. Grady Chandler of Garland.

Follow @davejourno

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