Juan Patino, 39, Died in Fowler Industrial Accident at National Raisin Company After Falling Into Water Digester
FOWLER, CALIFORNIA (April 25, 2026) – A 39-year-old worker identified as Juan Patino has tragically died in a workplace accident at the National Raisin Company in Fowler.
Fresno County officials are saying that the accident took place around 1:10 p.m. on Friday morning. Juan Patino was tasked with cleaning rainwater from the water digester.
By 2:30 p.m. that same day, he was reported missing. Coworkers noticed that there was a hole in the tarp by where he was working.
A specialized dive team was called in to search the toxic pool. He was discovered inside of the pool and extricated.
Sadly, Juan Patino was pronounced dead at the scene. The owners of the National Raisin Company are reportedly cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
A full investigation by OSHA remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Fresno County Industrial Accidents
Employers in California have a legal obligation to maintain all worksites in reasonably safe condition. According to 29 U.S.C. § 654(a)(1), “each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees.” Employers should take several actions to protect workers from dangerous chemicals.
- Identify: Employers should work to identify all potentially dangerous chemicals.
- Training: Employers should ensure that every worker is trained to recognize hazards.
- Engineering Controls: Employers should install guardrails and other safety measures to prevent accidental falls into dangerous areas.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Workers should be provided all of the PPE that they need to be safe. This includes provided fall protection.
When a worker is injured or killed in California, they or their surviving family members will typically have recourse through the workers’ compensation system. This is a no-fault insurance scheme designed to help any worker harmed during their employment. The family of a deceased worker may also have recourse through a third-party liability claim. A third-party liability claim may be possible if an entity separate from a worker’s employer contributed to an accident.
Common Sources of Third-Party Liability for Industrial Accidents
Far too many workers are killed or seriously injured every year across California. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Private industry employers reported 344,500 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in California in 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.” There could be several sources of third-party liability following any industrial accident.
- Equipment Manufacturer: The company that manufactured any piece of workplace equipment could be liable for an industrial accident. In particular, it may have lacked key safety features such as machine guards.
- Maintenance Contractor: The company responsible for maintaining equipment at a worksite could be liable if it installs certain safety systems improperly.
- Property Owner: The landlord of an industrial site could be liable for an accident if they had control of safety operations at the site.
Industrial accidents are often highly preventable. They routinely involve worksites where OSHA safety regulations are not being followed. The family of any worker who died in an industrial accident may be able to pursue some measure of accountability through a civil claim. This is why it is so important that fatal workplace accidents are investigated by an outside party.
Investigating Fowler Industrial Accidents
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Juan Patino. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to OSHA. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong so that similar accidents can be prevented. This was a preventable tragedy that should have never taken place.
Do you need more information about a Fowler industrial accident? Our team of workplace safety advocates is here for you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected through skilled advocacy. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any particular incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se Habla Español.
