Richard Malone Died In Industrial Accident At Lyon LLC in Watseka

Wrongful Death - August 15, 2025

OSHA Investigation Underway After Lyon LLC Worker Richard Malone Died in Accident After Door Fell on Top of Him

Richard Malone Died In Industrial Accident At Lyon LLC in Watseka

WATSEKA, ILLINOIS (August 14, 2025) – A worker at Lyon LLC identified as Richard Malone has tragically died in a Watseka industrial accident.

Iroquois County officials are saying that the accident took place at 3:00 a.m. on Saturday. Richard Malone was closing up the plant at the very end of his shift.

He attempted to close some type of overhead door that was stuck. While attempting to shut the door, it fell on top of him and caused serious blunt force injuries in the process.

Sadly, efforts to save Richard Malone were not successful. He was later pronounced dead at 4:27 AM that same day.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is conducting an investigation into what happened.

Keeping Workers Safe at Manufacturing Plants

Thousands of workers are killed or seriously injured in preventable accidents each year in the United States. Many of these incidents take place at manufacturing plants. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “In the private manufacturing industry during 2020, there were 373,300 total recordable cases (TRC) of nonfatal injuries and illnesses. Of those, 135,900 had days away from work (DAFW), 108,800 had days of job transfer or restriction (DJTR), and 128,700 had other recordable cases (ORC).” Manufacturing plants should take a number of measures to protect workers.

  • Physical Safeguards: Manufacturing plants should install fixed and interlocked guards to protect workers from dangerous pieces of machinery.
  • Lockout/Tagout Systems: All of the equipment that workers used should be de-energized before any instance of maintenance or repair.
  • Safety Programs: Manufacturing plants should comply with all OSHA regulations related to hazard communications. Workers should be trained to recognize dangerous conditions that they may encounter.
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Every worker should be provided with the PPE necessary to safely perform their jobs. This may include hardhats, eye protection, respiratory protection, and fall protection for workers who performed their duties at heights.

Keeping workers safe at manufacturing plants requires that these businesses prioritize safety and do not cut corners. The vast majority of workplace accidents can be prevented when all OSHA regulations are strictly followed. Failing to adequately guard machinery remains one of the leading causes of injuries at manufacturing plants.

Liability for Accidents at Illinois Manufacturing Plants

As a general principle, employers in Illinois cannot be held directly liable for any incident where a worker is injured or killed on the job siteā€“with limited exceptions for willful and wanton misconduct and when employers intentionally cause harm. However, legal claims can be pursued against third-party entities that may be liable for some accident in the workplace. There could be numerous sources of third-party liability for any industrial accident in a manufacturing plant.

  • Defective Equipment: The company that created any piece of machinery at a manufacturing plant could be liable if that machinery malfunctioned and injured a worker. It is also possible that some piece of equipment lacked adequate safety features that are common in one industry.
  • Negligent Maintenance: The equipment at a manufacturing plant is often installed and maintained by an outside party. If there are any issues with how that equipment was maintained or installed, this could imperil workers and form the basis of a negligence claim.
  • Property Owners: It is common for businesses to lease the land or space that they use to conduct work operations. If a property is owned or controlled by some entity separate from an employer who conducts business at that location, that entity could be liable. Property owners across Illinois have a legal obligation to correct hazardous conditions on their propertyā€“when they have actual or constructive notice of those dangerous conditions.

Determining liability for any accident at a manufacturing plant can be complicated. If any door or other piece of machinery malfunctions, it is important to consider who made it and what ultimately went wrong. Property owners do have a legal responsibility to test and maintain safety systems. They also have a duty to properly warn workers and guests about the potential dangers that they will encounter. It is critical that OSHA conducts a thorough investigation into all of the possible entities that may have contributed to a workplace fatality.

Investigating Illinois Workplace Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Richard Malone. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to OSHA. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong so that similar tragedies may be averted. Many questions remain unanswered at this time. What safety features did this door have? Who manufactured it? What entities control or maintain this manufacturing plant?

Do you need more information about an Illinois workplace accident? Our team of worker’s rights advocates is here to answer any questions that you may have. We are committed to ensuring that all workers are aware of their rights and able to perform their duties in a safe environment. No worker should ever have to choose between keeping their job and working in hazardous conditions. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.