Worker killed by toxic gas; fertilizer manufacturer fined $394K
An investigation conducted by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has determined that Two Rivers Terminal LLC could have prevented the death of one of its workers. The company, which manufactures fertilizer, has a history of safety violations and putting employees at risk. The incident occurred in June 2024 when a 56-year-old worker was attempting to clean out a tanker truck with a hose. According to L&I, the fertilizer residue inside the tank created hydrogen sulfide gas that killed him.
When the incident occurred, Two Rivers Terminal was in the process of appealing two safety citations issued by L&I in 2022 and 2023 totaling $672,320. The company has been cited for 96 serious and 43 general violations over the past three years and is part of L&I’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
During its most recent inspection, L&I cited the company for three willful serious, five repeat serious, and three serious violations. These violations include:
Allowing a worker to enter a permit-required confined space without air monitoring, attendants, ventilation, PPE, or a way to communicate
Not training workers in chemical hazards or on working in confined spaces
Two Rivers Terminal now faces an additional $394,200 in fines.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, Craig Blackwood, assistant director for L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, said, “This incident is heartbreaking and frustrating. Mr. Voloshin’s death was completely preventable. Two Rivers Terminal continues to ignore the safety rules despite being fined over and over again,” said Blackwood. “We hope this significant fine will motivate them to do the right thing to protect their workers.”
Industrial safety incidents
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“This is the second time in five years this company has been handed a large fine for failing to protect workers."
Stone manufacturer fined £18K for repeatedly exposing workers to respirable crystalline silica
The company was initially served with seven improvement notices, but when the HSE conducted a follow-up inspection in September 2023, five of the improvement notices had still not been addressed.
Manufacturer fined £4K for repeatedly exposing workers to wood dust
The company was inspected by the HSE three times over a 12-year period.
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About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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