Fibre agrees to pay $201,900 to settle worker's 2004 death
Wednesday, August 22, 2007 7:13 AM PDT
By Evan Caldwell
Printable version
E-mail this articleLongview Fibre has settled an appeal of workplace-safety violations issued after the death of 38-year-old Mark Greenland in January 2004.
The settlement includes a $201,900 fine.
The state Department of Labor & Industries and the Association of Western Pulp & Paper Workers Union Local 153 -- which represents Fibre's union pulp mill workers --- signed off on the settlement.
Union officials, in fact, lauded the company's new, Canadian ownership for a "new attitude and commitment toward safety."
In July 2004, Fibre was fined for violations of procedures used to ensure machinery is turned off and can't accidentally start while employees work on it. Greenland died of chest and neck injuries when he was caught in a machine. The state found three "willful" violations by Fibre and one serious violation. The company appealed that finding.
During the appeal process, Fibre eventually agreed the violations took place, but the company contested the formula used to determine the fine, according to the findings issued by Industrial Appeals Judge Nancy Curington. The L&I inspector cited the company's "poor history" of correcting problems when calculating the fine.
In October 2005, Curington ruled that the fine were justified, but Fibre appealed her ruling.
The settlement agreement announced Tuesday "focuses on significant changes at the company, and a substantial commitment from the new owner and the union to work cooperatively to keep the workplace safe," according to L&I news release.
"This was a devastating event for the workers and the company, but we're gratified that the new owners and managers at Longview Fibre, in full cooperation with the union, are so dedicated to working with us to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again," Steve Cant, assistant director for L&I's Division of Occupational Safety and Health, said in a statement.
"In addition to our mutual commitment to keep our employees safe, Longview Fibre and our union worked collaboratively to dedicate $50,000 from the company for an educational fund for Mark Greenland's children," Frank McShane, chief operating officer for Longview Fibre said in a statement.
Under the agreement, L&I will modify the seven violations from "willful" and "serious repeat" to "serious," with a total penalty of $201,900; Fibre agrees to pay the penalties, correct the cited violations and dismiss its appeal of another citation issued in January 2007.
Fibre also agreed to establish a schedule for conducting comprehensive safety and health consultations, with the union fully involved; and L&I will not schedule Fibre for inspection for one year, although inspections may by initiated by complaints, injuries or a death.
"With all the uncertainty of working for new owners and management, one thing has become clear -- there's a new attitude and commitment toward safety," Local 153 president Roger Fisher said in a statement. "The union is grateful for the change."
Fibre was sold April 20 to Toronto-based Brookfield Asset Management.
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