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Nov 03, 2023

Waverly man dies after being trapped in lime powder in silo

by: Kevin Gfeller, Carl Aldinger, Tara Lynch Posted: Jan 30, 2022 / 08:11 PM EST Updated: Jan 31, 2022 / 06:04 PM EST ELMIRA HEIGHTS, N.Y. (WETM) JAN. 31 UPDATE – The Elmira Heights Fire Department

by: Kevin Gfeller, Carl Aldinger, Tara Lynch

Posted: Jan 30, 2022 / 08:11 PM EST

Updated: Jan 31, 2022 / 06:04 PM EST

ELMIRA HEIGHTS, N.Y. (WETM) JAN. 31 UPDATE – The Elmira Heights Fire Department and Chemung County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a Waverly man died after being trapped in lime powder in a silo at Anchor Glass Sunday night.

According to Elmira Heights Fire Department Chief, Guy Peck II, 60, of Waverly, died after being trapped in the silo. Deputies responded to a report that a plant employee was trapped in a silo around 6 p.m. on January 30. The rescue attempts from the Sheriff’s Office, Elmira Heights Fire Department, Town and Country and Elmira City Fire Department were unsuccessful.

Peck was working in an area known as the “batch house”, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The Office said that Peck found a problem with manufacturing holding silo Number 7. Peck then became trapped in lime powder that was being held inside the silo. The Chemung County Medical Examiner’s Office pronounced Peck dead at the scene.

The Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division and OSHA are working to investigate the incident. However, authorities believe it to be a workplace fatality and “not a criminal matter.”

Sheriff Bill Schrom told 18 News that OSHA will eventually determine its own findings about the safety of the plant. “I know they’re gonna do a very thorough investigation as to what occurred. Obviously, their role’s to make sure that everything is up to safety standards,” he said. “Certainly if they find anything that doesn’t meet the criteria that they think it should be, I would presume they have their own sanctions in place and manner in which they handle those types of things.”

18 News will provide more information as it becomes available.

ELMIRA HEIGHTS, N.Y. (WETM) — On Jan. 30, at approximately 6 p.m., scanner reports said a person was trapped in a silo at Anchor Glass Container Corporation in Elmira Heights.

Multiple local police and fire departments responded to the scene including the Elmira and Elmira Heights Fire Departments.

According to the Chemung County Firewire, initially, Town and Country Fire Department was setting up a landing zone for a helicopter.

The current status of the reportedly trapped individual is unknown.

18 News reached out to the Elmira Heights Fire Department for comment, but they said they “do not have any information at this time.”

This is a developing story and 18 News will update this article as more information is released.

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