Industry News

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.

Alexis Gajewski

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.

The company, along with its owners John Menza Dudley Jr. and Leslie Elizabeth Dudley, was cited for 22 willful violations, one repeat violation and five serious violations. These violations include failing to ensure employees used energy control procedures, not providing proper training on the importance of the energy control program, failing to use lockout/tagout devices on machinery when performing maintenance, and not maintaining machine guarding. The sawmill faces $2,471,683 in proposed penalties.

In a recent quote, OSHA Regional Administrator Kurt Petermeyer said, “Phenix Lumber’s willful disregard for the well-being of their employees leaves another family to grieve the loss of their loved one. This must stop. This worksite has become all too familiar to OSHA. Phenix and its owners have a legal responsibility to follow federal safety laws that are meant to prevent the exact hazards that cost this employee’s life.”

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.