Worker Fatally Submerged in Water Digester at National Raisin Company, Fowler, California

Basic Incident Information

• Date of incident: Friday, April 25, 2026

• Time of incident: Around 1:10 p.m. (worker last known working at task), reported missing by ~2:30 p.m.

• Location: National Raisin Company workplace, Fowler, Fresno County, California, USA

• Victim: Juan Patino, 39‑year‑old worker

• Incident type: Fatal fall into toxic water digester during cleaning work

Incident Description

According to Fresno County officials, Juan Patino was assigned to clean rainwater from a water digester at the National Raisin Company site around 1:10 p.m. By about 2:30 p.m., coworkers realised he was missing and noticed a hole in the tarp near the area where he had been working. This raised concerns that he may have fallen into the digester.

Emergency services called in a specialist dive team to search the toxic pool inside the digester. The team located Mr. Patino in the water, extricated him, and brought him to the surface. Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The company’s owners are reported to be cooperating with the ongoing investigation, and OSHA has opened a full inquiry.

Investigation and Regulatory Status

• Lead investigation: OSHA is conducting a full investigation into the fatal industrial accident.

• Employer cooperation: National Raisin Company owners are reported as cooperating with investigators.

• Legal framework: The incident falls under employers’ duty to provide a workplace free from recognised hazards that are likely to cause death or serious harm, as outlined in 29 U.S.C. § 654(a)(1).

Preliminary Learnings and Safety Focus

Without task‑level procedural details from OSHA yet, learnings should stay focused on evident hazard types:

• Fall and drowning/immersion hazards:

  • Work around open or covered pits, tanks, or digesters containing water or toxic liquids must be controlled through physical barriers, guardrails, covers designed to support load, and fall‑protection where applicable.

• Work on/around tarped or covered surfaces:

  • Tarped or temporary covers over pits or tanks should never be relied upon as walking/working surfaces unless engineered and rated for that purpose; access and cleaning should be planned to avoid stepping on weak or unsupported coverings.

• Hazard identification and training:

  • Workers assigned to cleaning or maintenance around digesters and similar confined or toxic liquid spaces need specific training on fall, drowning, and chemical exposure hazards, and on safe methods of accessing and working near these structures.

• Rescue planning:

  • Tasks involving work near liquid‑filled or confined process units should have pre‑planned rescue methods and equipment (e.g., retrieval lines, life rings, man‑down alarms) to enable faster recovery if someone falls in.

Status

• Fatalities: 1 worker (Juan Patino) confirmed dead.

• Other injuries: None reported.

• Investigation: OSHA investigation ongoing; no detailed causal findings released yet.