(Photo: Post Bulletin)
DODGE CENTER, MN — April 29, 2025 — It has been one year since 63‑year‑old Teofilo Gonzalez was crushed to death by a 5,000‑pound concrete mixer drum at Con‑Tech Manufacturing — and one year later, questions remain about whether anything has truly changed to protect workers.
Gonzalez, a longtime employee, died on April 29, 2024, when a dolly supporting the massive mixer drum failed, pinning him underneath. Co-workers attempted to lift the drum and perform CPR, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. (kttc.com)
Minnesota OSHA launched an investigation into the accident, but as of this anniversary, no citations, fines, or enforceable mandates have been issued against Con‑Tech. (kttc.com) The last OSHA record for the company dates back to 2020, with a $7,000 safety penalty — years before Gonzalez’s death. (postbulletin.com)
One year later, workers report no public proof of real safety improvements. Equipment handling massive weights, like mixer drums, remains a serious hazard, and Con‑Tech has not made its internal safety changes transparent. Family members and safety advocates warn that without accountability, another preventable death is likely waiting to happen.
“This wasn’t an accident — it was negligence,” said a local labor advocate. “A 5,000‑pound drum doesn’t fall because of chance. It falls because proper supports, training, and oversight were ignored.”
Gonzalez’s death was preventable. OSHA standards exist to prevent equipment collapse, ensure lockout/tagout procedures, and enforce secure machine handling. The lack of enforcement against Con‑Tech sends a chilling message: worker safety is optional when a company chooses profits over human lives.
For Gonzalez’s family, the pain remains raw, and for his co-workers, the message is clear: one year later, Con‑Tech has yet to show it values its employees’ lives.