Government penalizes businesses over 6 deaths at Colorado dairy

Federal regulators have imposed penalties totaling $246,609 on three businesses following the deaths of six Colorado dairy workers who were exposed to toxic hydrogen sulfide gas at a facility near Denver last August.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced the fines Tuesday against Prospect Ranch LLC, the dairy owner, and two contractors working on a manure management system. The tragic incident occurred when a manure pipe disconnected in an enclosed space at the dairy farm in Keenesburg, approximately 35 miles northeast of Denver.

Prospect Ranch faces the largest fine of $132,406 for serious violations, including inadequate training, planning, and failure to protect workers from “atmospheric hazards.” The company has not yet responded to requests for comment on the penalties.

The fatal accident sent shockwaves through the rural communities of Weld County last summer when five men and a teenager lost their lives. All victims were Latino, with ages ranging from 17 to 50, and four belonged to the same extended family.

According to OSHA’s investigation, the tragedy unfolded when “a Fiske employee and a Prospect Ranch employee attempted to stop the flow but were overcome by the gas.” Subsequently, three more Fiske employees and another Prospect Ranch worker entered the pump room, resulting in all six fatalities.

Colorado-based Fiske Inc., whose business High Plains Robotics services dairy equipment and employed four of the deceased workers, received $99,306 in proposed penalties. Regulators cited the company for failing to protect employees and provide hydrogen sulfide detection training. Contractor HD Builders faces a $14,897 penalty for lacking a written hazard communication program and failing to provide training on detecting the deadly gas.

“Our hearts are heavy as we review OSHA’s citations,” stated Fiske Inc. and company owner Kevin Fiske. “While we disagree with the findings and are reviewing our options to determine next steps, we are focused on doing what is in our power to ensure that a tragedy like this never happens again.” HD Builders declined to comment on the penalties.

William Field, a Purdue University professor who tracks deaths in confined agricultural spaces, noted that while the fines are substantial by OSHA standards in agriculture, they often get reduced upon appeal. “That part of it quite frankly is peanuts compared to the civil liability potential in situations where private lawsuits are allowed,” Field explained.

The Weld County coroner’s office confirmed through autopsies and toxicology tests that hydrogen sulfide gas exposure caused the deaths, describing the incident as an industrial accident in a confined space.

Agricultural safety experts have long recognized the dangers of confined spaces on farms and dairies as a persistent cause of death in the industry across the United States. These fatalities frequently result from exposure to odorless and colorless noxious gases or from asphyxiation in enclosed areas where oxygen levels are depleted.

Among the victims were Alejandro Espinoza Cruz of Nunn, his 17-year-old son Oscar Espinoza Leos, and his 29-year-old son Carlos Espinoza Prado. Jorge Sanchez Pena, 36, from Greeley, who was related to the Espinozas by marriage, also perished in the incident. The other victims were Ricardo Gomez Galvan, 40, and Noe Montañez Casañas, 32, both residents of Keenesburg. Montañez Casañas was a veterinarian working in the U.S. on a visa, and his remains were repatriated to Mexico’s central state of Hidalgo.

The companies have 15 days to comply with the proposed penalties, request an informal conference with safety regulators, or challenge the findings before an occupational safety review commission.

First responders from a rural fire district in Weld County, who were called to the scene around 6 p.m. on August 20, took their own safety precautions when entering the confined space, highlighting the known risks associated with such environments.