Meat packer claims hand injuries

An employee of a Millstadt meat packing plant is suing a manufacturer for severe injuries he sustained when his hand was pulled into a vacuum filler.

Dale Daab of Smithton filed suit against Risco USA Corp. and Schmidt Butcher's Supplies in St. Clair County Circuit Court March 15 claiming hand, finger and nerve injuries.

Employed by Schubert Packing Co. at 700 S. Breese in Millstadt, Daab claims that on July 21, 2006, he was attempting to clean a meat packing filler with its lid open "at which time the filler started causing the plaintiff's hand to be pulled into the filler."

He claims Risco, which designed and manufactured the vacuum filler, inadequately designed and constructed the filler, and failed to warn consumers of the inherent hazards in using the machine.

Seeking in excess of $300,000 in damages, Daab is represented by Thomas C. Rich and Jennifer L. Barbieri of Fairview Heights.

Risco also claims Schmidt Butcher Supplies, which was in charge of repairing and/or inspecting food processing equipment at Schubert, is negligent for failing to include adequate safety and maintenance instructions and failing to warn users of the dangers in using the meat filler.