Families of McNeilus Burn Victims Set Up GoFundMe Pages

The families of McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing employees injured in a January 11 explosion at the company have set up GoFundMe pages to help with their recoveries as a record of past safety violations at the plant in Dodge Center, MN comes to light.

Six people were working in a paint bay when the explosion, which blew the doors off both ends of the building, took place. Two employees suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene. Four of them suffered severe injuries and were rushed to burn units at area hospitals- two were airlifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul; two were transported by ambulance to Mayo Clinic Hospital — Rochester, Saint Mary’s Campus.

GoFundMe Pages

A GoFundMe page has been established for Eemou See, a mother, grandmother and friend, who suffered third-degree burns from the waist up covering 50 percent of her body. She is hospitalized at Regions. Her first surgery, to remove burned skin, was scheduled for today. In two weeks, she will begin the first of several skin graft surgeries.

A GoFundMe page has also been established for Anthony Putratz, a brother and friend, who suffered third-degree burns from the waist up covering 50 percent of his body. He is expected to be in the burn unit at Regions for two months and to face a long recovery afterward.

History of Violations

While the injured employees begin treatment for their extensive injuries, information about past safety violations at the company has begun to surface. Brian Thompson, a former auditor of McNeilus Truck & Manufacturing, told ABC 6 News he witnessed unsafe conditions such as missing of grounding wires and uncovered pails during his five-year tenure.

The Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration has visited the plant five times since 2009 issuing 17 citations, according to the Rochester Post Bulletin. The most recent visit was March 3, 2016 when four violations for improper electrical procedures were cited.

To contact Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman, our lead attorneys for these cases, click here or call 1 (888) 377-8900 (toll-free).