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December 5, 2009

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Death of mechanic at Levi’s factory spurs federal probe

Friday, July 16, 1999 | 10:18 a.m.

The death Tuesday of a 52-year-old mechanic at the Levi Strauss distribution plant in Henderson has prompted a federal safety investigation.

Levi's 360 employees were sent home after the accident Tuesday at about 1 p.m. and did not return to work until Thursday, giving the Occupational Safety and Health Administration time to conduct a preliminary safety review.

Although the plant is now considered safe for reopening, the OSHA investigation into the death of Gary Horsman is expected to continue for another several weeks.

Horsman was killed while making a repair to a piece of automated equipment in the warehouse, according to Levi spokeswoman Vickie Bates. Because of the federal investigation, the company is not releasing specific details of how Horseman died, but the Clark County Coroner's office ruled he died of "multiple blunt force traumas."

Horsman had worked at the plant for four years, Bates said. The plant has been in Henderson for 21 years.

Jerry Garrett, OSHA's district supervisor, said that there is no timetable on the investigation and that OSHA personnel will continue to look into the death until they can determine what happened.

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