Employee killed at Renneberg Hardwoods affiliate Bagley Hardwood Products of Bagley, Minnesota; police chief says victim's jacket became entangled in pulley of 40 ft.-wide door as it opened in folding movement

Wendy Lisney

GRAND FORKS, North Dakota , April 1, 2014 (GRAND FORKS HERALD) – A veteran employee of a Bagley, Minn., wood manufacturing plant was killed early today when he was caught in the pulley of a large industrial-size door as it was opened.

Police Chief Larry Peterson said an official of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration was expected to be on the scene this afternoon to investigate the incident.

The accident victim, a 41-year-old man from Fosston, Minn., "was a long-time employee" of Bagley Hardwood Products, the chief said.

Peterson was trying to contact the man's relatives near the Twin Cities before releasing his name.

The 911 call came in about 8:40 a.m. this morning, Peterson said.

The man's jacket became entangled in the pulley that is part of a large, 40-foot-wide hangar-like door as it opened in a folding movement, he said.

The plant is an affiliate of Renneberg Hardwoods based in Menahga, Minn., with other facilities in St. Cloud, Minn., and Sioux Falls, S.D., according to the company's website. It uses Great Lakes region lumber to make paneling, particle board, plywood, mouldings and other finished products.

Renneberg has six affiliates, including the Bagley plant and plants in Wisconsin, Michigan and Missouri

A company spokesman said a Renneberg official was at the Bagley plant today in response to the accident.

A call to Bagley Hardwood Products wasn't returned immediately.

The plant is on the west side of Bagley along U.S. Highway 2 and has been in the city more than 20 years, a city official said.

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