Woodland Pulp Contests $800,000 in OSHA Fines Following Fatal Incident
BAILEYVILLE – A paper mill is challenging nearly $800,000 in fines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which cited the company for inadequate safety measures and training for its employees.
On July 30, OSHA announced the fines against Woodland Pulp after an investigation into a January incident where two employees tragically died from exposure to toxic gas.
OSHA claimed the company received four willful citations for jeopardizing worker safety by exposing them to high levels of hydrogen sulfide gas without proper alarms or breathing devices. Additionally, there were eight serious citations for failing to provide necessary worker training concerning hydrogen peroxide risks and neglecting to perform medical evaluations and fit tests for respirator users.
The investigation also highlighted issues such as the improper labeling of chlorine and acid lines and the failure to control hydrogen sulfide exposure risks. OSHA noted that it also looked into a chemical fire at the facility in March and a 2017 incident that led to 14 employees being hospitalized due to chemical exposure.
As the case now progresses to OSHA’s review commission, company officials from Woodland Pulp were unavailable for comment.
