FedEx Express (FX, Memphis International) has been fined USD7,000 by the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA) for not having proper safety procedures in place during loading its B777F jets at its Memphis International hub, leading to a death of an employee in 2017, KSLA News 12 has reported.

The cargo specialist has also been ordered to display the details of the case in the workplace as a warning and implement new, more stringent procedures.

The report follows an investigation into Ellen Gladney, who was crushed to death by a cargo loader in November 2017. Gladney worked as an E-Stop Controller, a person guiding the cargo loader into a position for loading the B777-F jet. TOSHA has found that FedEx did not have proper procedures for coordination between the E-Stop Controllers and the cargo loaders operators, and was aware that the two could not see each other during some operations.

"[FedEx was] more concerned about protecting their plane than they were Ms Gladney and their employees," attorney for Gladney's sons Jeff Rosenblum has said.

"We are aware of the report and we are working with TOSHA to address the concerns raised. We remain committed to ensuring that our operations meet the highest standards of safety," FedEx has commented.

The Gladney family can still file a civil lawsuit against the carrier until November 2018.