Employee's Death Deemed Preventable
OSHA has cited International Paper for willful, repeated, and serious safety violations
OSHA says that the death of an employee at International Paper Co.’s Ticonderoga plant could have been prevent if the company provided proper safeguards and training.
The employee was a general mechanic who was removing filter bags of combustible dust and replacing them with new bags when the fly ash ignited, according to a report. He suffered severe burns and then subsequently died.
OSHA cited the company for two willful, one repeated and three serious violations. An inspection found that International Paper failed to supply the employee with necessary fire-resistant clothing and did not train him on the hazards of combustible fly ash.
“This worker's death was preventable. International Paper knew of these hazards and deficiencies and did not address them,” said Kim Castillon, OSHA's area director in Albany. “While nothing can return this man to his daughter and co-workers, the company can and must take prompt and effective steps to ensure that this never happens again.”