Paper Mill Settles Lockout-Tagout Fatality Case after Years of Appeals

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.ohsonline.com/articles/50160/

Paper Mill Settles Lockout-Tagout Fatality Case after Years of Appeals
September 7, 2007

In January 2004, 38-year-old Mark Greenland, an employee of Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging Inc., died after being caught inside a paper cutter when another employee inadvertently started it up. A Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (WSDLI) investigation initially resulted in a proposed penalty of $203,100 and company citations for three willful violations and one "serious repeat" violation of lockout-tagout procedures. The company appealed.

Now a settlement agreement has been reached by WSDLI, Longview Fibre, and the Association of Western Pulp & Paper Workers Union, Local 153, ended the three-year appeals process. The settlement focuses on significant changes at the company, and a substantial commitment from the new owner and the union to work cooperatively to keep the workplace safe.

"This was a devastating event for the workers and the company, but we're gratified that the new owners and managers at Longview Fibre, in full cooperation with the union, are so dedicated to working with us to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again," said Steve Cant, WSDLI assistant director for the Division of Occupational Safety and Health.

FULL story at link.