US: Company faces $1.4 million in fines for exposing minors to dangerous machinery
Despite federal regulations barring young workers from operating dangerous machinery, a teenage worker died at a Wisconsin sawmill while performing maintenance.
The following article is an abridgement of an article originally published on the OSHA website.
Teenage worker dies at Wisconsin sawmill that violated child labor laws
A 16-year-old worker died after being trapped in a stick stacker machine at a Wisconsin sawmill that allowed several underage workers to operate hazardous equipment without proper training or safety procedures.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigated the incident and found that the company violated federal child labor and safety regulations. The company also had a history of similar infractions and injuries at its other facilities.
The company failed to protect its workers from serious hazards
The agency cited the company for eight willful, six repeat, 29 serious and four other-than-serious violations of federal safety and health regulations. OSHA categorized five of the willful citations as egregious – the most serious violations the agency issues. The agency proposed nearly $1.4 million in penalties and placed the company in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
WHD also found that the company violated the Fair Labor Standards Act’s child labor provisions by employing minors under the age of 18 in occupations involving the operation of power-driven woodworking machines. The company agreed to pay $190,696 in civil money penalties and to comply with the law.
The department is committed to preventing child labor exploitation
The department announced the creation of an Interagency Task Force to Combat Child Labor Exploitation in February 2023 to better coordinate federal efforts to protect children from abusive and hazardous work situations. In fiscal year 2023, the department identified child labor violations in 955 cases and assessed more than $8 million in penalties.
"It is incomprehensible how the owners of this company could have such disregard for the safety of these children," said Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Douglas Parker. "Their reckless and illegal behavior tragically cost a boy his life, and actions such as theirs will never be tolerated."
The company has 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference, or contest the findings.
Sources
Department of Labor fines Wisconsin sawmill nearly $1.4M after allowing teens to operate dangerous machinery by OSHA, 19th December, 2023.
