HOUSTON, January 22, 2021 – The former owners of Watson Grinding & Manufacturing Co. released the following statement in advance of the one-year anniversary of an industrial accident in Northwest Houston that occurred on January 24, 2020.

“As we reflect on the terrible event that occurred one year ago, we express our sincere condolences to everyone affected. It is alleged that three deaths were attributed to this tragedy, two of whom were Watson employees. The men who were lost that day, along with their families, will always be in our hearts and prayers. 

“We also acknowledge the difficulties experienced by our neighbors whose homes and businesses were affected and whose lives were disrupted. We have been inspired by the community’s response. 

“Over the past year we have worked diligently with state and federal agencies to investigate the incident and to gain a clear understanding of what happened that caused this event. Thank you for your patience as this investigation works toward a conclusion, and we thank the teams of officials, experts and investigators for their professionalism and perseverance in this endeavor. It is in everyone’s best interest to understand what went wrong in order to make sure nothing like this happens in the future.”

About Watson Grinding & Manufacturing
Watson Grinding & Manufacturing ceased business operations in 2020. Established as a small specialty grinding shop in 1960, Watson Grinding & Manufacturing grew to include a full-scale machine shop and to offer specialty thermal spray coatings. It provided customers around the world with machining, grinding, lapping and thermal spray coatings.