H-E-B faces nearly $50K in penalties amid federal investigation into employee’s death

H-E-B faces nearly $50,000 in penalties following an Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation into the death of an employee who was injured at the grocer’s Northeast Side warehouse.

OSHA records show H-E-B was initially cited for 10 safety violations — eight labeled “serious” — for a total $80,388 penalty. H-E-B told KSAT after presenting evidence of safety training, processes and compliance, the federal agency dismissed seven of the violations, lowering the penalty to $49,650.

The investigation stems from the death of Austin Lewis Flores. H-E-B said Flores “was involved in an accident at work,” on April 4, 2026, at the company’s warehouse near Interstate 35 and Rittiman Road.

“He was treated on site, then selected to be taken to a clinic,” a spokesperson said in the April statement. “He was released from the clinic the same day with limited restrictions, went home, and also had follow-up appointments scheduled.”

Flores died April 8 — a day before his 28th birthday. According to the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office, Flores died due to pulmonary thromboembolism by a recent blunt force injury. His death was ruled an accident.

OSHA officially opened its investigation into Flores’ death on April 13.

In a follow-up statement later that month, H-E-B said it is “working directly with the family and the funeral home to cover expenses.”

On Friday, H-E-B said it “will continue to work with OSHA to make our workplaces as safe as possible.”

Read the company’s full statement below:

“Our entire H-E-B family continues to mourn the tragic loss of Austin, and we extend our condolences and enduring support to his family, friends, and fellow Partners. We worked with OSHA to address the issues, and after we presented evidence of our safety training, processes, and compliance, they dismissed seven of the 10 violations. We will continue to work with OSHA to make our workplaces as safe as possible. At H-E-B, the health and safety of our Partners is our highest priority, and we remain deeply committed to continuously improve our training and safety standards to strengthen workplace safety for our Partners.”

H-E-B

Second warehouse death in less than six months

Flores was the second H-E-B warehouse employee in less than six months who died following a workplace incident at the same warehouse.

In October 2025, Teresa Dominguez, 27, died after sustaining injuries possibly caused by a forklift at an H-E-B warehouse, according to San Antonio police.

Dominguez was operating her forklift when she came to a stop, a company spokesperson said. Another employee noticed she was showing signs of distress and called EMS.

She was taken to a hospital and was later pronounced dead.

OSHA’s investigation into Dominguez’s death remains open, according to the agency’s online entry.

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