Employee dies after falling 15 feet while working at industrial plant

BERKELEY COUNTY, SC (WCSC/Gray News) – An employee at an industrial plant has died after falling 15 feet while working on the job.

The employee for Century Aluminum was pronounced dead on the scene by the Berkeley County Coroner’s Office.

Berkeley County Coroner Darnell Hartwell has identified Daniel E. McCoy, 61, of Summerville, as the victim.

Hartwell says the coroner’s office was notified Friday at approximately 4:54 pm that McCoy died from traumatic injuries after about a 15 ft. fall at the Century Aluminum Company in Goose Creek.

Berkeley County EMS and the Goose Creek Rural Fire Department also responded to the incident.

Century Aluminum released a statement following the employee’s death:

It is with deep sorrow and regret we confirm that one of our employees has passed away following an incident at our Mt. Holly plant on September 27. We are supporting the bereaved family, and our team is standing by to support colleagues who share in mourning their loss. In addition to on-site counseling and support services, employees can access a 24-hour hotline for ongoing support. As part of our standard emergency response, an internal investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident is underway. We will collaborate with local authorities and with the occupational health and safety agency to understand the details of what happened. While we do not yet know all the answers, we are committed to working diligently through the process because safety remains our highest priority. For now, our immediate focus remains on the well-being of the family and employees impacted by this incident. To respect the privacy of the family and to maintain the integrity of the investigation, we will refrain from further comment at this time.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Berkeley County Coroner’s Office are investigating the case.