A 22-year-old Rayne man is dead after an accident at a sausage-processing plant in Acadia Parish.

Todd Wheeler, an employee at Richard's Cajun Foods, died Thursday after falling into a piece of machinery at the meat-packaging facility.

Church Point Police Chief Dale Thibodeaux said another worker noticed Wheeler was missing from his station and quickly stopped the machine. Police were notified of the accident just before 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

"It was a matter of 30 seconds," Thibodeaux said. "As soon as they noticed he was missing from his post, he was checked and the emergency post was switched off. It all happened pretty quick."

Wheeler was pronounced dead at the scene by the Acadia Parish Coroner's Office. Also responding were the Church Point Volunteer Fire Department and Acadian Ambulance.

Thibodeaux said members of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration were expected to be at Richard's on Friday to investigate the fatal work accident.

A spokesperson for the OSHA office in Baton Rouge could not comment on the matter.

In 2015, OSHA fined Richard's $3,600 for two safety violations during an inspection, according to online records.

The first violation, related to hazardous energy controls, is classified as serious by the federal agency. The other violation concerned wiring methods, components and equipment.

Email Megan Wyatt at mwyatt@theadvocate.com.

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