Sawmill fined $2.5 million for 28 safety violations, which led to the death of a worker

Feb. 22, 2024
The sawmill has been investigated by OSHA four times over the past five years, and was added to the agency’s Severe Violators Enforcement Program in 2020.

An OSHA investigation has determined that MDLG Inc., operating as Phenix Lumber Co., could have prevented the death of an employee if the Alabama sawmill had followed required safety rules. The incident occurred in August 2023 when a sawmill supervisor climbed on top of an auger to access a difficult-to-reach area to unclog a woodchipper. Unfortunately, the machine started up, and the worker was pulled into the machine and died. The sawmill has been investigated by OSHA four times over the past five years, and was added to the agency’s Severe Violators Enforcement Program in 2020.

About the Author

Alexis Gajewski | Senior Content Strategist

Alexis Gajewski has over 15 years of experience in the maintenance, reliability, operations, and manufacturing space. She joined Plant Services in 2008 and works to bring readers the news, insight, and information they need to make the right decisions for their plants. Alexis also authors “The Lighter Side of Manufacturing,” a blog that highlights the fun and innovative advances in the industrial sector.