A contract worker was killed in an industrial accident at an asphalt plant in Greenville County, South Carolina, on October 23, 2026.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office said the accident occurred shortly before noon at the Panagakos Asphalt plant on Greencove Drive. The worker was employed by a separate contracting company and was performing maintenance on a machine used to move asphalt from one area of the plant to another before the material is loaded into trucks.
The coroner determined that the worker died from traumatic asphyxia and ruled the death accidental. Authorities have not released additional details explaining how the worker became caught, compressed, or otherwise injured by the equipment.
The accident remains under investigation by the Greenville County Coroner’s Office, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, and South Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Because the worker was employed by a contractor rather than the asphalt plant itself, the circumstances also raise important questions about potential third-party liability if the conduct of the plant owner, another contractor, or another company contributed to the fatal accident.
Maintenance Work Around Industrial Machinery Creates Serious Hazards
Maintenance work can place employees in close proximity to moving parts, conveyors, transfer systems, hydraulic components, and other equipment that is not normally accessible during routine operations.
The machine involved in this accident was reportedly used to transport asphalt within the plant before the material was loaded into trucks. Authorities have not identified the specific type of machine, what maintenance work was being performed, or whether the equipment was operating when the accident occurred.
Those details will be central to understanding what happened.
When workers perform maintenance on industrial machinery, one of the most important safety issues is whether hazardous energy has been controlled before anyone enters an area where equipment can move. Lockout/tagout procedures are designed to prevent machinery from unexpectedly starting, moving, cycling, or releasing stored energy while maintenance or repair work is underway.
The available information does not establish that a lockout/tagout failure caused this accident. Investigators will need to determine whether the machine was energized, whether it could move during the maintenance work, what procedures were being followed, and whether the contractor and plant had clearly defined responsibilities for isolating the equipment.
Industrial machinery can also contain stored mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, or gravitational energy even when normal power has been shut off. Maintenance work therefore requires more than simply turning off a machine. The actual hazards depend on the design of the equipment and the work being performed.
Because the reported cause of death was traumatic asphyxia, investigators will likely focus closely on how the worker became compressed or trapped. Traumatic asphyxia can occur when external pressure on the chest prevents normal breathing and circulation. In an industrial setting, that can happen when a worker becomes pinned between equipment, caught in machinery, or compressed by a moving component.
The investigation should determine the exact position of the worker, what component moved or created the compressive force, whether the machine was operating automatically or manually, and who had control over the equipment at the time.
Contractor Status May Create a Separate Third-Party Claim
The fact that the worker was employed by a contract company rather than Panagakos Asphalt is legally significant.
A fatal workplace injury does not always involve only the worker and the direct employer. Industrial facilities frequently rely on outside contractors for maintenance, repair, inspection, cleaning, and specialized services. When an employee of one company is injured because of the negligence of another company, a separate third-party claim may exist in addition to employment-related benefits.
Here, investigators will need to determine which company controlled the machine, who authorized the maintenance work, who was responsible for shutting down and isolating the equipment, and whether plant personnel remained involved in the operation while the contractor was performing the work.
Those questions matter because responsibility for industrial machinery is not always determined simply by who employs the injured worker. A plant owner may retain control over equipment, operating procedures, access to machinery, or the decision to shut down and restart production. An outside contractor may control the maintenance work itself. In some situations, responsibilities are divided between several companies.
If the asphalt plant owner or another company failed to provide a safe condition for the maintenance work, failed to properly isolate the machine, unexpectedly operated the equipment, or otherwise contributed to the accident, a third-party negligence claim could arise.
That claim would be separate from workers’ compensation benefits that may be available through the worker’s direct employer. Workers’ compensation generally addresses the employer-employee relationship, while third-party claims address the negligence of other people or companies responsible for causing an injury.
The distinction can be especially important after a fatal industrial accident because workers’ compensation benefits and civil damages are not the same. A third-party claim can potentially address categories of loss that are not available through the workers’ compensation system.
Nothing currently released establishes that Panagakos Asphalt or any other third party was negligent. The employment and contractual relationships, control over the machine, and circumstances of the maintenance work still need to be established.
Equipment Control and Communication Will Be Central to the Investigation
Industrial maintenance performed by outside contractors requires clear coordination between the facility and the contractor.
Before maintenance begins, everyone involved should understand which machine is being serviced, what energy sources are present, who has authority over the equipment, when it can be operated, and what must occur before it is returned to service. A breakdown in that process can expose workers to machinery they believe is safe or inactive.
Investigators can review the plant’s maintenance procedures, contractor safety rules, work orders, training records, permits, and any applicable lockout/tagout procedures to determine how the work was supposed to be performed.
The physical condition of the machine will also be important evidence. Investigators can examine controls, switches, emergency stops, guarding, interlocks, hydraulic or pneumatic systems, and other components to determine whether the equipment operated as designed.
If the plant had cameras covering the work area, video could provide a direct account of the accident sequence. Statements from other employees or contractors who were nearby may also establish whether the machine was supposed to be shut down, whether anyone attempted to operate it, or whether the worker had entered an area where movement was possible.
An expert witness with experience in industrial machinery, maintenance operations, or workplace safety may eventually be needed to evaluate whether the equipment and work procedures met applicable safety standards.
The South Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation should also provide important information about the work being performed, the responsibilities of the companies involved, and whether any workplace safety requirements were violated.
Wrongful Death Claims After a Fatal Industrial Accident
When negligence by a third party causes a fatal workplace accident, eligible survivors may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim in addition to any benefits available through the worker’s employer.
The specific claims and damages available will depend on South Carolina law. In general, a wrongful death action can address losses resulting from the death itself, including certain financial and personal losses suffered by legally eligible survivors.
A separate survival action may also exist for damages belonging to the injured person before death, depending on the circumstances of the accident and applicable state law.
The fact that this worker was employed by a contractor makes identifying the responsible companies especially important. Industrial facilities often use several independent businesses at the same site, and the company that caused an accident may not be the same company that employed the injured worker.
The investigation should therefore focus on who owned and controlled the machine, who was responsible for its safe shutdown, who directed the maintenance work, and what occurred immediately before the worker suffered the fatal injury.
Speak With a Workplace Injury Attorney
Spagnoletti Law Firm represents people affected by serious and fatal workplace accidents involving industrial equipment, contractors, and negligent third parties.
A workplace injury attorney can evaluate whether an accident involves a separate claim against a plant owner, equipment operator, contractor, maintenance company, or another business in addition to any employment-related benefits. An attorney can also explain the available legal options, identify responsible parties, handle insurance issues, and pursue compensation when third-party negligence causes a serious injury or death.
We offer a free consultation to discuss a workplace accident and the legal options that may be available. Our firm represents clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients do not pay attorney’s fees unless we obtain a recovery.
If you have been impacted by a workplace accident involving a negligent third party, call Spagnoletti Law Firm at 713-804-9306 or contact us online.