Dole confirms employee death at Soledad facility

SOLEDAD, Calif. (KION)

UPDATE 6/15/2020 1:20 p.m. A spokesperson forCAl/OSHA said the Fremont District Office is investigating a death at the Dole Food Company's Soledad facility.

Public Information Officer Luke Brown said an outside source reported that a conveyor belt tipped over, pinning an employee beneath it. The employee died there.

PREVIOUS STORY: Dole Food Company has confirmed that an employee died in an accident on the production floor of their Soledad facility Friday evening.

"All of us at Dole are shocked and deeply saddened at the devastating loss of our longtime colleague. Our heartfelt condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends. We are grieving alongside you," said Director of Corporate Communications William Goldfield in a written statement.

Goldfield went on to state that "safety in our products and workplace is the foundation of Dole" as he announced that the company has launched a full investigation into the incident, and that it is collaborating with local authorities.

Work at the plant has been suspended for the weekend.