Findlay man killed in accident at trash facility

A vehicle maintenance technician employed by Rumpke Waste & Recycling was killed in a workplace accident Monday at the company's facility at 431 Prospect Ave. According to an incident report by the Findlay Police Department, Michael Wortman, 56, of Findlay, was killed when the front arm of a trash truck fell and struck him in the head. At the time of the incident, Wortman was attempting to repair the arm with the aid of a manager, who was using a fork lift to suspend the arm with a strap. The incident report states that officers were dispatched to the facility at 10:40 a.m. After investigation, officers learned that Wortman and the manager were attempting to reattach the arm to a mechanical portion of the truck. A witness statement made by the manager said that as he raised the forklift to reposition the arm, the strap holding it snapped. Wortman moved around the forklift to get a better look at the arm when it fell and struck him in the head, the report states. The incident report states that Wortman was transported by Hanco EMS to the emergency room at Blanchard Valley Hospital. He was pronounced dead at 11:25 a.m. Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigators later arrived on the scene, the report states. Representatives from OSHA confirmed Wednesday that the incident is being investigated. A statement from Rumpke Waste & Recycling states that the company is also investigating the incident. "Anytime a team member passes it's like losing a member of our family," the statement reads. "Our hearts break for our team member, his family and anyone else touched by this situation. "The circumstances surrounding the team member's passing remain unclear at this time. A thorough investigation is still very much underway. Rumpke is committed to working hand-in-hand with local authorities and investigators to gather all the details."