EVERETT, Wash. — 19-year-old Bradley Hogue was killed in July while working for Pacific Topsoils on a job in Duvall. It was his second day working for the company.
It's been nearly six months since that day, when Bradley fell into an auger that was distributing bark for the company Pacific Topsoils.
His parents had been told by their son that he would merely be cleaning up bark chips off the sidewalk for his job.
“He was inside, should not have been inside -- in such an unsafe condition,” said Alan Hogue, Bradley’s father.
Hogue's parents say they know their son wasn't trained properly for his job with Pacific Topsoils.
And, after LNI began investigating Pacific Topsoils following the accident, LNI recently released their findings.
‘The employer did not ensure that employees were trained or instructed’ properly around the machinery that killed Hogue, according to the LNI documents.
Labor and Industries cited Pacific Topsoils with three willful violations and 14 serious violations following the investigation.
The total fines amount to $199,000.
"It's not enough. He was run through augers, and for his life, for them to get $200,000, to me that's like getting a $500 fine for killing somebody,” said Alan, Bradley’s father.
Bradley Hogue's parents want to spread a message of safety.
That message, they hope, will prevent someone else's son or daughter from being too afraid to speak up to their bosses and say no to unsafe working conditions.
KIRO
