LAKE COUNTY ? A memorial fund has been set up to help the family of a vineyard worker who was tragically killed last week while operating a frost protection machine at Clover Valley Vineyards in Upper Lake.
The Winegrape Commission Board of Directors voted unanimously to donate $1,000 to the fund for the family of Silvino Eufracio Navarro, 48, who died in the early morning hours last Wednesday. The account is set up at Umpqua Bank and donations can be made at either branches in Lakeport or Kelseyville.
“A tragedy like this affects our local winegrape and wine industry,” Lake County Winegrape Commission Executive Director Shannon Gunier said.
“Although many of us make and market Lake County wines, we always need to remember the people who really grow the quality winegrapes are the vineyard workers in Lake County. It is because of them that we are able to promote Lake County winegrapes and wine with such passion and confidence.”
Please make checks payable to “in memory of Silvino Eufracio Navarro.” You can also send checks to the Commission at P.O. Box 877, Lakeport, Calif., 95453.
The tragedy has sparked concern among growers in the area, who have reacted by checking to make sure their farm equipment meets safety standards and drive-shafts are covered.
Navarro was killed when his clothing caught in a drive-shaft of an irrigation pump, and he was pulled through the machine, ultimately falling into the irrigation pond, according to the Lake County Sheriff”s Department.
Representatives from OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) have not returned calls placed by the Record-Bee last Friday and this week to confirm whether the incident was reported. If an incident resulting in death, dismemberment, or injury that causes hospitalization of more than 24 hours is not reported within eight hours, an employer faces a $5,000 fine.
Calls placed Friday and this week to the vineyard management company based in Napa County that oversees the Clover Valley Vineyards have not been returned.
Executive Director of the Lake County Farm Bureau Chuck March reported a rush on drive-shaft cover purchases since the incident occurred.
“I”ve talked to a couple of growers who are reevaluating their current practices and looking at those types of safety measures ? it”s really too bad that something like this has to happen to give everyone a wake-up call on the safety issues,” March said.
Bill Wilson, farm equipment mechanic and owner of Wilson Repair and Agricultural Equipment in Kelseyville, said he typically sells one drive-shaft cover per year. In the past week, he has sold seven. He has worked on the very same drive-shaft that killed Navarro, and said most farmers prefer to work without a drive-shaft cover. “A well-trained operator doesn”t need a cover,” Wilson said, referring to individual growers without employees.
West Cal Tractor in Santa Rosa reported selling two drive-shaft covers last week. The other two area farm equipment businesses, Lampson Tractor and Equipment Co, Inc., with locations in Geyserville, Ukiah, St. Helena and Rohnert Park, could not be reached for comment at press time.
Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com
