Weaverville car wash cited after fatal accident in January

WEAVERVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina) – The North Carolina Department of Labor announced that authorities recently issued citations to Zips Car Wash LLC following an accident earlier this year that left one person dead.

In January, Weaverville police announced that a 26-year-old car wash employee died after becoming trapped in the car wash.

After investigating the incident, North Carolina Department of Labor officials said they charged the car wash with one alleged willful aggravated violation, two aggravated violations and one non-aggravated violation of North Carolina’s Occupational Safety and Health Act. Officials added that the company was fined $185,991.

Officials stated that the intentional major violation was that there were no procedures in place to control the electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic power sources when employees were servicing or maintaining equipment in the car wash. In addition, one of the major violations alleged that the walking and work surfaces in the car wash tunnel were damaged and posed a hazard to employees.

Officials say the company has 15 business days to request an informal meeting with the Department of Labor, file an appeal with the North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, or pay the fine.

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