Adrian Munoz Killed in Accident at Incobrasa Soybean Plant in Gilman

Wrongful Death - August 8, 2026

OSHA Investigating Fatal Industrial Accident That Led to Death of Adrian Munoz at Incobrasa Soybean Plant in Gilman

GILMAN, ILLINOIS (August 8, 2026) – A worker identified as Adrian Munoz has tragically died in an Iroquois County industrial accident at the Incobrasa Soybean Plant in Gilman.

Iroquois County officials are saying that the incident occurred sometime on Monday. Adrian Munoz was helping to load rail cars with some type of feed when he apparently fell from the top of one of the rail cars.

Paramedics were called to the scene of the incident to help the injured victim. Unfortunately, Adrian Munoz sustained critical injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Incobrasa Soybean Plant said that it’s cooperating with investigators. A full investigation by OSHA remains ongoing at this time.

Liability for Gilman Industrial Accidents

Illinois employers have a legal obligation to protect workers from foreseeable sources of harm. This necessitates that worksites are maintained in a reasonably safe condition and that workers are provided with adequate training and safety equipment. Under Illinois law, most workplace accidents are adjudicated exclusively through the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. However, an injured worker or their surviving family member may also have recourse to a third-party liability claim. A third-party liability claim may be possible if an entity separate from a worker’s employer contributed to an accident. What follows are a few potential sources of third-party liability.

General Contractor: A general contractor could face liability if they failed to maintain a worksite in a reasonably safe condition or provide workers with key safety features like fall protection systems.
Contractors: A subcontractor could also face liability for any type of fall if it was caused by the unsafe movement of railway equipment or materials.
Equipment Manufacturers: Companies that produce industrial equipment could face liability for an accident under the legal theory that some piece of equipment had design defects that contributed to a worker’s injury or death.

Most accidents at railyards are preventable and the consequence of one or more clear safety failures. Consider, for example, Carney v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., 2016 IL 118984. A worker suffered catastrophic injuries while trying to dismantle a railroad bridge. Unfortunately, part of the structure shifted and caused him to slide under a falling gutter. In that case, the Illinois Supreme Court held that a company that hired an independent contractor could face direct liability for an accident. This may be the case if they maintained sufficient control of the worksite and created a hazardous work environment.

Preventing Accidents at Illinois Rail Car Operations

Falls are one of the leading causes of preventable injury and death for workers across Illinois and the United States. According to one report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, falls and trips caused an estimated 844 workplace deaths in 2024 alone. A large portion of these deaths occurred in the construction industry. It is therefore imperative that employers create and enforce effective fall prevention protocols.

Fall Protection: Employees should be provided with personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) when they work at a height of 6 feet or more from a lower level.
Stability: Employers should ensure that all platforms that workers are on are properly anchored and secured for the duration of that work session.
Inspections: Worksites should have a safety coordinator that oversees major projects and works to identify potential fall hazards.
Work Reductions: Employers should do their best to limit any type of work performed at height. Much of the work performed at height can be at least partially completed at lower levels.

Companies that have a strong industrial safety program are less likely to have fatal accidents involving worker falls. Unfortunately, many companies are more concerned with squeezing out as much productivity as possible from their workers. This can lead to clear and obvious safety lapses that put the safety and lives of those workers in jeopardy. Victims of workplace accidents, and in particular their family members, are able to seek some measure of accountability and transparency through a civil action.

Investigating Illinois Workplace Accidents

Horwitz Horwitz & Associates was very concerned to learn about this workplace accident that killed Adrian Munoz. We offer our deepest condolences to his family members as they are going through such an incredibly difficult time. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to OSHA. It is important that any safety shortcomings are properly addressed so that other tragedies can be prevented.

Do you need more information about an Illinois workplace accident? Are you concerned your loved one was needlessly exposed to a major hazard? Our team of workplace safety advocates is here for you. We are committed to helping victims understand their rights and upholding OSHA safety standards. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we may be able to assist you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.