Colorado

Employer of Fatal Colorado Dairy Accident Addresses Rumors and OSHA Citations

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:08:04 GMT

In August 2025, six lives were lost on a Colorado dairy farm as a result of a tragic accident involving exposure to hydrogen sulfide, or H2S. This loss has shaken not only the families, but also the victims’ local Weld County communities.

Four of the victims were employees of HPR, or High Plains Robotics, a dairy equipment company based in Johnstown, Colo. – one of several outside contractors whom the dairy hires to service its equipment. Jorge Sanchez Pena, 36, was a service manager. Alejandro Espinoza Cruz, 50, and Carlos Espinoza Prado, 29, were service technicians. Oscar Espinoza Leos, 17, was an intern. The other two victims were employees of the dairy where the accident occurred.

“Losing these guys is something we have felt and grieved every day since the accident,” says Kevin Fiske, owner of HPR. “As a local, family-owned company, we have never been through anything like this, and the families they have left behind have been first and foremost on our minds.”

Throughout the six months since the accident, OSHA has been completing its investigation at the dairy.

“The only ones who truly know what happened are no longer with us, but we do know that the HPR employees were experienced and careful.” Fiske says. “The four men would not have put themselves or others in harm’s way if the extent of the danger had been even a possibility in their mind.”

As of mid-February, 2026, OSHA completed its investigation, assigning citations to HPR, the dairy and another contractor. Citations to HPR include failure to protect employees from hazardous atmospheres and failure to provide hydrogen sulfide detection training.

“We’ve been supportive throughout the investigation, answering questions and providing documentation,” Fiske says. “We disagree with the findings, and we’re exploring our next steps.”

According to a statement from OSHA, the investigation also concluded an HPR employee and a Prospect Ranch employee attempted to stop the flow but were overcome by the gas. Subsequently, three more HPR employees and one Prospect Ranch employee entered the pump room, which led to the loss of a total of six workers.

In light of the release of the OSHA citations, HPR has released the following statement:

“Our hearts are heavy as we review OSHA’s citations related to the accident that claimed the lives of four of our employees in August 2025. We have cooperated with the investigation proceedings to date. While we disagree with the findings and are reviewing our options to determine next steps, we are focused on doing what is in our power to ensure that a tragedy like this never happens again.

The men that we lost were not only pillars of their families and communities, but they were also valuable and respected members of HPR. We share in the grief of their untimely passing. As employees of HPR, their pride in their work was evidenced by the diligence with which they served our dairy customers.”

“I just wish everyone knew how great these guys were at their jobs,” Fiske says. “A few of them had been with us at HPR for years, and we knew them like family. They were some of the best dairy technicians around.

“They were sons, husbands, dads, brothers, uncles, grandfathers. The accident was just that – an accident. They are so dearly missed by so many, and will be for years to come.”

Colorado Ramps Up Bird Flu Response, Requires Milk Testing

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 15:37:46 GMT

Colorado began requiring dairies to test milk supplies for bird flu every week, the state’s veterinarian told Reuters on Tuesday, as a federal team arrived to help investigate an escalating outbreak in cows that has spread to chickens and people.

The state’s new mandate aims to identify additional farms that could be infected and spread the disease to other dairies or poultry flocks, after the largest cluster of human cases to date in the United States occurred on a Colorado farm this month.

Bird flu infections linked to dairy cows have wiped out 3.1 million egg-laying chickens in Colorado in recent weeks, and poultry workers also tested positive.

Colorado has confirmed infections in 47 dairy herds since the U.S. outbreak in cows began in late March, with about 60% of its cases detected in the past month, according to U.S. data. Nationally, 13 states have reported infections in about 168 herds since spring.

In Colorado, the loss of millions of chickens triggered the requirement for licensed dairies with lactating cows to test bulk milk supplies weekly, state veterinarian Maggie Baldwin said in an interview. About 70% of the state’s laying hens were eliminated, according to U.S. data.

“We really said what we’re doing right now is not effective and we need to change strategy,” Baldwin said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture since late April has required testing for lactating cows that are being shipped over state lines. The agency later launched a voluntary program to test bulk milk supplies .

A USDA epidemiological “strike team” arrived in Colorado this week to assess how the virus may be spreading among dairies there, Baldwin said. Workers or vehicles can carry the virus from farms.

If mandated testing reveals additional infections, Colorado can take further steps to contain the virus, Baldwin said.
Six Colorado farm workers tested positive for bird flu in July after culling chickens at an infected egg farm, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

More than 150 workers were exposed to the infected poultry, and 69 developed symptoms and were tested, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment.

Colorado’s public health department reported a presumptive positive human case on a different Colorado poultry farm on Friday. About 350 people were involved in culling chickens at that farm, where 23 workers developed symptoms and were tested, the department told Reuters. The CDC has not confirmed the presumptive positive case.

Testing remains in progress, Colorado’s health department said on Tuesday.

Reporting by Tom Polansek in Chicago and Leah Douglas in Washington; Editing by Bill Berkrot

DCHA Heads West for 2024 Conference

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 19:00:00 GMT

Go west, calf and heifer raisers, to the 2024 Dairy Calf and Heifer Association Annual Conference and Trade Show, slated for April 9-11 in Westminster, Colo.

Along with a change of scenery, this year’s conference and trade show promises “Strong Foundations for Bright Futures” via a wide range of educational and networking opportunities.

Conference sessions will be structured by interest tracks, including wet calf/weaning; post-weaned/reproduction; and beef cross. Featured presentations include:

Transition milk: What is it and should all calves be fed some form of “transition” milk? – Michael Ballou, Texas Tech University
She’s weaned. Now what do we do? – Tom Tiyutki, Ag Modeling and Training Systems
Building your mental health toolbox – Ashley Machodo, M Well Consulting
Calf vet perspective on liver abscesses – Taylor Engle, 4 Star Veterinary Service , LLC
Best practices for disease prevention – Geoff Smith, Zoetis
The use of essential oils and oligosaccharides in neonatal calves – David Casper, Ralco, Inc.

Several producer panels will also be featured, bringing first-person testimony to the major issues, challenges, and opportunities for today’s calf and heifer-rearing operations.

All sessions will include live Spanish translation. A virtual option will be offered for those who cannot attend in person. Single-day registration is also available.

And, as always, the conference trade show brings together calf and heifer service industries and suppliers to answer questions and offer solutions all in attendance.

Registration and hotel information can be found on the DCHA website . For best rates, register by April 5.

Colorado

Employer of Fatal Colorado Dairy Accident Addresses Rumors and OSHA Citations

Colorado Ramps Up Bird Flu Response, Requires Milk Testing

DCHA Heads West for 2024 Conference

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