The victim became trapped in a gravel machine at the landscaping supply plant on State Street on March 19. OSHA is conducting a joint investigation with Hamden police.
32-Year-Old Man Dies After Industrial Accident at Modern Metals Corp. in Hamden
A 32-year-old man died on March 19, 2026, after becoming trapped in an industrial gravel machine at Modern Metals Corp., a landscaping and masonry supply plant at 2895 State Street in Hamden. Emergency crews responded just before 7:30 a.m. and found the worker entrapped in the machinery.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death was traumatic asphyxiation. The victim's identity has not been released.
What Happened
Hamden fire officials said the man was tending to a large piece of commercial metal equipment — an industrial gravel machine — when the accident occurred. He went into cardiac arrest as a result of the entrapment.
Emergency responders disentangled the victim from the machine. Resuscitation efforts were made, but the man could not be revived due to the severity of his injuries.
Investigation
The incident is being jointly investigated by the Hamden Police Department, the Hamden Fire Department, and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA is required by law to investigate any workplace fatality and typically has six months to complete its investigation and issue any citations.
No citations, violations, or preliminary findings have been released in connection with Modern Metals Corp. or the March 19 incident.
Modern Metals Corp.
Modern Metals Corp. operates a materials and recycling plant at 2895 State Street. The company provides landscaping and masonry supplies. State Street in Hamden runs through an industrial corridor on the town's western side, near the New Haven border.
No prior OSHA citations for Modern Metals Corp. have been publicly linked to this incident.
Workplace Fatalities in Connecticut
Occupational fatalities involving industrial machinery are among the most serious categories of workplace accidents investigated by OSHA. In Connecticut, OSHA's New England regional office handles investigations of fatal workplace incidents, which can result in citations and financial penalties for employers found to have violated safety regulations.
The Connecticut Department of Labor also tracks workplace fatality data as part of its annual labor statistics reporting.
The Hamden Police Department has not released a case number or issued a formal public statement beyond confirming the department's involvement in the joint investigation.
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