Texas Lumber Company Faces $389K in Penalties After Worker’s Fatal Fall

An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration into fatal injuries suffered by an 86-year-old worker at a Henderson, Texas sawmill and pallet manufacturer found the company exposed workers to hazardous energy sources and lack of machine guarding.

W.D. Townley and Son Lumber Company Inc. faces $389K in penalties after OSHA cited the company for willful violations for failing to use energy control procedures and implement a hearing conservation program, as required by law.

OSHA also issued citations for serious violations for lack of machine guarding, failing to use personal protective equipment, not addressing the hazards from operating powered industrial trucks, and neglecting to notify OSHA within 8 hours of a work-related fatality as required.

Source: OSHA