Federal Investigation Finds Sawmill Operator Neglecting Machine Safety
Federal investigators found sawmill operator Rex Lumber LLC repeatedly neglected machine safety: a 20-year-old worker was crushed to death in Troy, Alabama, in December 2022 when stored energy closed an infeed unit during a jam-clearing job. OSHA issued a willful citation and $184,385 in proposed penalties — the company’s third serious incident since 2020.
- Sawmill operator Rex Lumber LLC has been cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for the third time since 2020 for failing to follow safety standards.
- The latest incident involved the death of a 20-year-old worker at the company’s Alabama facility, who was crushed when stored energy caused the infeed unit to close on him.
- Prior tragedies in 2021 and 2020 at Rex Lumber sawmills in Florida involved improper machine operations, resulting in injuries and a worker’s death.
Rex Lumber LLC-Troy Cited in Florida Investigations
TROY, AL – Following a federal investigation into a worker fatality, it has been revealed that sawmill operator Rex Lumber LLC repeatedly failed to comply with machine safety requirements, resulting in tragic consequences and leading to a U.S. Department of Labor investigation.
Crushing Fatality at Rex Lumber LLC in Troy
An Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigation determined that in December 2022, a 20-year-old sawmill worker lost his life at the Rex Lumber LLC facility in Troy. The tragedy occurred when the worker, part of a six-member crew clearing a jammed roller, was crushed by the infeed unit closing on him due to stored energy.
Pattern of Neglect at Rex Lumber Sawmills
This incident is not isolated. Tragically, there have been two previous incidents at Rex Lumber sawmills in Florida. In March 2021, at the Graceville location, an employee suffered crushing injuries while trying to fix a machine’s faulty hydraulic valve. In December 2020, at the Bristol location, another worker had their hand amputated after it came in contact with a conveyor roller. Regrettably, the worker later succumbed to their injuries in the hospital.
OSHA’s Response and Penalties
As a result of the investigation, OSHA issued a willful citation to Rex Lumber LLC for allowing workers to perform maintenance without controlling hazardous energy sources. The company also failed to regularly review energy control procedures and neglected proper training on isolating stored energy in hydraulic accumulators.
OSHA has assessed the company with $184,385 in proposed penalties. Since 2013, Rex Lumber LLC and its subsidiaries have received 19 serious and other-than-serious violations.
Importance of Safety Compliance and OSHA Resources
“Rex Lumber’s failure to comply with safety requirements led to a worker’s death and put others at risk,” stated OSHA Area Office Director Jose Gonzalez in Mobile, Alabama. “Safety standards exist to protect workers from machinery hazards, and when followed, they save lives.”
Rex Lumber LLC has operated since 1926 and runs sawmills in Troy, Alabama; South Windsor, Connecticut; Bristol and Graceville, Florida; Acton, Massachusetts; Brookhaven, Mississippi; and Doswell, Virginia. The company employs approximately 360 workers in yellow pine lumber harvesting.
The company has 15 business days to comply with citations, request an informal conference, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Employers seeking guidance on workplace safety and health programs can visit OSHA’s website. OSHA provides compliance assistance resources and offers free help on complying with OSHA standards.