In a shocking exposé by The Washington Post, Phenix Lumber Co. has been identified as the deadliest workplace in America, with a harrowing record of safety violations, injuries, and fatalities. This Alabama lumber mill has been under scrutiny for years, accumulating over 180 citations and nearly $5.3 million in fines since 2003, yet it continues to operate amid a culture of negligence and danger.
At the mill, workers have faced life-threatening conditions, resulting in at least three deaths and 28 reported injuries since 2010. A recent incident involving 67-year-old maintenance supervisor James Streetman highlighted the extreme risks faced by employees, as he tragically died in an accident involving a spinning auger.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has struggled to enforce safety regulations at Phenix Lumber, revealing significant limitations in its authority. Despite being classified as one of the “worst of the worst employers,” OSHA lacks the power to shut down operations even after repeated violations. Instead, it can only request a court shutdown in rare cases of imminent danger, leading to ongoing and preventable tragedies.
The facility’s owner, John Menza Dudley, who passed away in 2022, was known for prioritizing production over worker safety. His management style contributed to a work environment where safety protocols were routinely ignored. Workers often had to clear machine jams while equipment was still powered, and essential safety guards were absent from machinery.
Despite numerous fines and interventions, the mill’s operations continued with little regard for the safety of its workers. In 2020, Brandon Lee Vandyke, a maintenance man, was killed in a horrific incident that underscored the mill’s neglect of safety standards, resulting in his dismemberment while working alone in a wood-chip silo.
OSHA’s findings reveal a pattern of disregard for worker safety at Phenix Lumber, highlighting a critical need for more stringent regulations and enforcement in American workplaces. The situation raises serious questions about the effectiveness of current safety regulations and the protection of workers in hazardous environments.
As the investigation into Phenix Lumber continues, it serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for systemic change in workplace safety standards across the United States.
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Source: The Washington Post
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