Employee dies after 15-foot fall while working at industrial plant

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

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

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

Hartwell says the coroner’s office was notified Friday around 4:54 p.m. that McCoy had died from traumatic injuries after falling approximately 15 feet at the Century Aluminum Company in Goose Creek.

Berkeley County Emergency Medical Services and Goose Creek Rural Fire Department also responded to the incident.

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

It is with deep sadness and regret that we confirm that one of our employees has died following an incident at our Mt. Holly facility on September 27. We support the bereaved family and our team is ready to support colleagues who share the grief. their loss. In addition to on-site consulting 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 work with local authorities and the Workplace Health and Safety Agency to understand the details of what happened. While we don’t yet know all the answers, we are committed to working diligently throughout the process as safety remains our top priority. At this time, our immediate priority remains the well-being of the family and employees affected by this incident. To respect the family’s privacy and maintain the integrity of the investigation, we will not make any further comment at this time.

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