ELYRIA — A workplace death at the 3M Elyria plant is being investigated by the Lorain County Coroner’s office.

Lorain County Coroner Dr. Stephen Evans verified David Kleinsmith, 48, of Elyria, died Feb. 13 as the result of an industrial accident at the Lowell Street facility.

David Kleinsmith

“It appears to be some type of electrical injury,” Evans said.

Kleinsmith died at University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center shortly before 4 p.m. the day of the accident.

A final report on Kleinsmith’s death and what caused it is pending completion of further investigation by a pathologist in Evans’ offices.

Evans indicated the death also is under investigation by the Toledo office of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Health & Safety Administration, which has jurisdiction over 17 counties in northwestern and northern Ohio including Lorain County.

Calls to the Toledo OSHA offices were referred to the regional Department of Labor offices in Chicago, where spokesman Scott Allen said the agency was most likely looking into the death, but he was unable to confirm late Friday that the agency has in fact opened an investigation.

Elyria fire Capt. William Gall said firefighters were called to the plant about 3 p.m. Feb. 13 after being notified of the accident by company personnel.

When they arrived, firefighter-paramedics found Kleinsmith being tended to by fellow employees who were performing CPR on the man.

Information in a report taken at the time did not indicate whether Kleinsmith was unconscious, although Gall said that was a likely assumption. Reports indicated the man did not appear to be breathing.

It was not immediately known what type of work Kleinsmith did at the plant, but he was found in an area of the facility devoted to what Gall termed chemical processes.

The plant produces goods including sponges and scrub sponges.

Gall said the Fire Department reports did not indicate the mishap was related to any type of electrical shock or explain what had happened. Firefighters continued CPR on Kleinsmith as a heart monitor was used to analyze his condition until an ambulance arrived.

Efforts were made to receive a medical history of the employee but none was provided at the time, Gall said.

The 3M Elyria operation dates to1951 when it began as Nylonge, a subsidiary of a multinational rayon manufacturer that produced sponges for some years before Kimberly Clarke acquired it in the 1970s.

A group of employees purchased the Nylonge plant from Kimberly Clarke in 1978 and ran it for nearly 20 years before 3M bought it in 2006.

Efforts to contact plant officials Friday for comment were unsuccessful.

Kleinsmith was a graduate of North Ridgeville High School. He is survived by his wife, Robin.

Funeral services were Friday and were to be followed by a private burial.

Memorial donations may be made in Kleinsmith’s name to the Cleveland APL, 1729 Wiley Ave., Cleveland, OH 44113.

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