A pulp mill in Longview, Washington, where 11 workers died after a chemical tank collapse, had a troubling history of safety issues and environmental violations. The Associated Press found that state inspectors were planning to visit the plant for unrelated safety complaints when the accident occurred. The plant, owned by Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co., had received numerous violation notices and fines for safety and environmental breaches. The U.S. Chemical and Safety Board reported that the company knew the tank was unsafe but continued to use it. A wrongful-death lawsuit has been filed by the mother of two victims, alleging negligence in maintenance and safety practices. The ongoing investigation seeks to uncover the full extent of the plant’s safety failures.
QUESTION: How might the repeated safety violations at the pulp mill influence public trust in industrial safety regulations?
Records reveal safety complaints, poor maintenance at site of deadly Washington pulp mill disaster
