Mill where worker died had past violations

CONCRETE, Wash. – A sawmill fined for safety violations after a millworker was dragged into a debarking machine and killed had been cited for safety problems in the past.

The state Department of Labor and Industries investigated operations at NW Forest Fibre Products three years ago, then cited the company for failing to develop a “log-out, tag-out” plan requiring employees to lock down a machine’s power supply before performing maintenance on it.

L&I spokesman Robert Nelson said the company had not put such a plan in place by Sept. 15, when a rag that 28-year-old Keith Cain was using to wipe water off a debarker drum got caught between two spinning tires and dragged him into the machine, which strips bark from tree limbs.

“In this case, one of the primary things that was missing and led to Mr. Cain’s death was lock-out, tag-out,” Nelson said.

NW Forest Fibre managers did not respond to repeated calls for comment.

The company has until March 30 to appeal a nearly $77,000 fine L&I levied this month. The company also may negotiate a settlement with L&I. Nelson said the department often lowers fines once workplace conditions have been improved.

A storm had blown off the roof that covered the debarker that killed Cain, allowing the machine to get wet and preventing it from operating efficiently. Rather than turning off the equipment and drying it, Cain tried to clean the drum while it was running, state investigators found.

After a six-month investigation, the state cited the company for more than 20 violations of workplace safety rules.