The death of a 52-year-old contractor who was crushed to death at a Missouri automotive assembly plant was preventable, according to OSHA inspectors.

The accident occurred in December 2014 when a weld failure caused a temporary support safety pin to disengage on an assembly line conveyor carriage at KCI, Inc.’s Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo. The 7,600-pound carriage then fell on the worker.

Federal inspectors cited KCI Inc., which is rebuilding the assembly line at the Ford Motor Co. plant, with one willful safety violation under OSHA's general duty clause. The agency determined that KCI did not provide a workplace free of recognized hazards.

The penalty for the construction company that employed the deceased worker: $70,000. The agency also cited Ford for not inspecting the assembly line's construction.

"This worker's death was preventable and a tragic loss for his family," said Barb Theriot, OSHA's area director in Kansas City. "KCI and Ford have a responsibility to inspect assembly lines and ensure that workers moving large parts are protected from crushing and struck-by hazards."

OSHA cited the automaker for one serious violation for failing to perform inspections as part of Ford's accident prevention program. Proposed penalties total $7,000.