Crown Cork and Seal workers honor memory of slain co-worker


Employees at the Crown Cork and Seal can manufacturing plant in North Portland held a memorial service and dedication Aug. 12 marking the one-year anniversary of a horrific industrial accident that killed a colleague.

Tara Lynn Hall, 26, a member of Machinists Lodge 63 and a maintenance trainee, was working her regular swing shift when a machine that stamps out paint cans from metal blanks became obstructed. Hall went to clear the obstruction when the machine engaged. The impact of the stamp killed her instantly.

The shift’s lead man — and Hall’s father — BJ Behurst — witnessed the incident, as did shop steward Jesse Lopez.

“It was devastating, especially for the people in the area,” Lopez said. “I still have nightmares.”

It was the first industrial fatality ever at the Portland plant. The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued “willful” violations against Crown Cork and Seal for not having a lock-out, tag-out procedure in place and for improper instruction for the safe operation of the machine. The company paid a $100,000 fine.

As the one-year date of the accident approached, several workers began talking about doing something in Hall’s memory, said Lopez. A committee was formed and the group decided to place a bench near the break area inscribed with the words: “In memory of Tara. J.C. Rocs!”

Hall was a devout Christian who, along with her twin sister, would often sing at the Gospel Mission on West Burnside. Her car donned a bumper sticker that read: “J.C. Rocs!”

Employees donated about $300 for the memorial bench, plaque and photograph. They held a brief ceremony before the start of swing shift Aug. 12. Attending was Bob Petroff, directing business representative of Machinists Lodge 24.

“We don’t need a bench to remember Tara, because we’ll never forget her,” said colleague James Richardson. “But maybe each day when we come in to work we’ll see the bench and remember to work a little safer.”

The committee was comprised of Lodge 63 members Lopez, Richardson, Terry Sneer, Steve Spiers, Amandra Prakash, Bill Rogan and Teamsters member Debbie Roberts.


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