OSHA fines Shawano County sawmill $280K, says it continues to expose employees to dangers
Becky JacobsTIGERTON — A Shawano County sawmill is facing a fine of more than $280,000 after federal inspectors said the company has continued to expose employees to amputation and other dangers.
“In 2018, a Tigerton Lumber Co. employee was fatally injured in a tragic and preventable incident caused by similar hazards found during this inspection," Robert Bonack, Appleton area director for the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, said in a news release Tuesday.
The following year, Tigerton Lumber was deemed a "severe violator," OSHA said. In July 2023, a follow-up inspection was performed as part of a federal program for severe violators, the release states.
Tigerton Lumber, 121 Cedar St., is roughly 55 miles northwest of Appleton. It opened in 1887 and currently employs about 60 workers at the sawmill, OSHA said. The company did not immediately respond to a request for an interview Tuesday.
Tigerton Lumber "violated federal regulations for energy control procedures, and failed to affix personal locks needed as part of lockout/tagout program to prevent equipment from operating while employees cleared debris, changed blades and serviced equipment," according to the agency.
"OSHA also learned the sawmill failed to provide employees with required safety training," the release states.
After inspecting the maintenance shop, stacking and planning area and sawmill, OSHA said it proposed $283,608 in penalties and cited Tigerton Lumber in December for three repeat violations, 14 serious violations and two other-than-serious violations.
Specifically, OSHA said it cited the company for these safety violations:
- Inadequate machine guarding on belts, pulleys, shafts, chains and sprockets.
- Belt and pulley not closed completely to prevent employee injury.
- Stairs without railings, exposing workers to fall hazards.
- Conveyors not properly guarded, operated or maintained.
- Lower landing area of stackers and un-stackers did not have safety guards to prevent access.
- Hazards near ring barkers and conveyors not fenced off or marked as prohibited areas.
- Barriers and warning signs not posted to prevent employees from entering dangerous spaces.
- Open and unsafe electrical boxes.
"The company is legally required to ensure safety devices are used and procedures followed to protect workers from dangerous machinery,” Bonack said in a statement. “By complying with federal regulations and industry recognized best practices, the company can help prevent employees from suffering serious injuries or worse.”
The business has 15 business days after receiving the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, the agency said.
Tigerton Lumber received a $72,400 penalty in an inspection case stemming from the fatality in 2018, according to OSHA's website. On Sept. 13 of that year, "an employee was greasing a fitting when a hydraulic roller on the outfeed line of the debarker came down and pinned him," the agency said.
The company had another case last year, which was opened and closed in August, according to the website. Tigerton Lumber was cited for one other-than-serious violation and settled with OSHA for a $1,203 penalty. The inspection was "related to failing to report injury/illness data in the OSHA Injury Tracking Application," according to Rhonda Burke, Department of Labor spokesperson. It was separate from the inspection in Tuesday's news release, Burke said.
Reach Becky Jacobs at bjacobs@gannett.com or 920-993-7117. Follow her on Twitter at@ruthyjacobs.