South Coast Paper LLC, a paper mill located in Maplesville, Ala., has been cited for a willful violation of safety standards by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration after a fatal incident in September 2022.
The investigation found the company willfully ignored established safety procedures, which led to the electrocution of a 36-year-old worker, according to an April 13 news release.
“There is no reason to perform maintenance on machinery without first taking all steps to de-energize that piece of equipment. Doing otherwise places workers at serious risk for injury and death,” OSHA Area Director Jose Gonzalez said in the release. “South Coast Paper’s failure to follow established safety procedures cost this worker their life and has left family, friends and co-workers to mourn.”
South Coast Paper LLC has been found to be in willful violation of safety standards, following the fatal electrocution of a 36-year-old worker at its Maplesville paper mill in September 2022, the release said. The investigation found that the company disregarded hazardous energy control procedures that protect employees performing maintenance on machinery.
During the incident, a three-person team of South Coast Paper employees was working on a line of a sheeter machine when a hot wire made contact with the ground and energized the machine, resulting in the electrocution of the worker, the release reported.
The company has been cited with one willful violation for allowing employees to perform maintenance on machinery without ensuring the development and documentation of hazardous energy control procedures and that they were followed, according to the release.
In addition, OSHA cited the company with a repeat violation for allowing workers to perform maintenance on machines without first being trained on hazardous energy controls. The company has also been cited for lack of machine guarding and not providing clear access in front of a 480-volt breaker panel nor training on electrical safe work practices, the release said. The agency proposed $227,040 in penalties for the violations.
This incident highlights the importance of following established safety procedures and regulations to protect employees from dangerous situations, the release reported. It also serves as a reminder to companies that willful disregard for safety protocols can result in severe consequences, including loss of life and hefty financial penalties.
