Workplace Safety
Murder of Welder Amber Czech, 20, Sparks Urgent Call to Better Protect Women at Worksites
Twenty-year-old welder Amber Czech was bludgeoned to death on Tuesday, Nov. 11, by her 40-year-old male co-worker at a dairy equipment manufacturing facility in central Cokato, Minn.
Following the Nov. 11 murder of Minnesota welder Amber Czech, 20, by a fellow employee at their equipment and systems design and fabrication factory worksite, the National Association of Women in Construction and building trades unions called for industry support and increased protections for women in key construction site jobs.
CBS News reported that Czech was bludgeoned to death by her male co-worker, identified as David Delong, 40, at the Advanced Process Technologies manufacturing facility in Cokato, Minn., which specialiizes in services to the food and dairy industry.
According to local outlets, police were called to the facility around 6 a.m. in response to reports of a woman suffering from significant head trauma and blood loss. First responders pronounced Czech dead at the scene, CBS News said.
Delong, who was captured on surveillance video grabbing a sledgehammer and walking toward Czech, was taken into custody and charged with “second-degree intentional murder” in Wright County. He allegedly told police that he had been planning to kill Czech for “some time,” according to a criminal complaint filed by County Attorney Brian Lutes, claiming that Czech had “given him a bad look and he was upset about that.”
Delong faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted. It is unclear what his role was at the manufacturing facility, which issued a stop-work order for the remainder of last week.
"We are heartbroken by yesterday's tragedy, and our thoughts are with the victim's family and friends in this terrible moment,” said Advanced Process Technologies in a statement. “We are also making sure our employees have the support they need and working closely with law enforcement as they continue their investigation.”
According to NAWIC, Czech had just completed a 10-month non-union welding program last spring and was looking forward to building a career in the skilled trades. A memorial GoFundMe site describes her as a “welder who took great pride" in her craft.
Looking for quick answers on construction and engineering topics?
Try Ask ENR, our new smart AI search tool.
Ask ENR →
“She had worked, trained hard and stepped into the trades with hope and determination,” wrote NAWIC-Metro Denver board member Sarah Kotzen in a LinkedIn post addressing news of Czech’s attack across the social media platform. She added: “[Czech] deserved safety. She deserved a future. She deserved to go home and she didn't.”
In a statement, NAWIC President Rita Brown said: “We must confront the truth that too many tradeswomen have endured hostility, intimidation, harassment and threats on jobsites where warning signs were visible—but unaddressed.” She added that “this tragedy is not an anomaly. It is part of a disturbing pattern that we, as an industry, can no longer deny—and will no longer tolerate.”
North America’s Building Trades Unions released a statement in solidarity, condemning violence and bullying on jobsites.
“Although Amber was not a NABTU member, her loss is felt profoundly across our union community and the entire construction industry,” the group wrote. "Violence has no place on our jobsites. NABTU unequivocally condemns this horrific act and reaffirms our commitment to creating safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces.”
ENR has contacted NAWIC for more information on what other measures the group may take.
