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September 05, 2024
Mill Worker Killed in Heavy Machinery Accident
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On March 8, 32-year-old Dakota Austin Cline died from blunt force injury to his head, torso, and neck after getting entangled in an industrial machine at Georgia-Pacific Camas Mill.
The employee was found dead on-site at 5:04 PM by the Camas Police and Washougal Fire Department. They referred to the incident as an ‘accident’–which was later supported by the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office.
According to Georgia-Pacific Public Affairs Officer Kristi Ward, Cline had been working on the specific machine that killed him for three months before the heavy machinery accident. It happened within the Converting and Unitizing Departments of the mill.
The said business units were temporarily closed down until further notice.
The response from Georgia-Pacific Mill
In an interview by Post-Record, Ward understands how heartbreaking the incident is to Cline’s bereaved family and friends, and they are working to support them through this difficult time.
“This is devastating for his family and friends and the Camas (mill) team…We have had grief counsellors on site in the mill, and we have been meeting with department team members,” Ward says.
She also stated that they are working with the authorities regarding the investigation and corporate safety resources.
When it comes to implementing safety protocols and training for the Unitizing Department machines, Ward affirms that Georgia-Pacific has extensive safety protocols. They conduct training on using specific machines before giving the go-signal to workers to operate the equipment.
This is not the mill’s first heavy machinery accident
A report from The Columbian describes a similar heavy machinery accident involving Terry Rhykus in 2002, a then 39-year-old employee at Georgia-Pacific who was crushed by a paper machine.
The company was levied $6,500 after the Department of Labor and Industries discovered that Rhykus’s passing could have been preventable if the safety policies had been conformed to and enforced.
In Cline’s case, the state has already opened an investigation into the employee’s death.
The Public Affairs Manager for the Labor and Industries Department, Matt Ross, says an investigation can be as long as six months from the time it was opened.
Their team of investigators could visit the mill to conduct interviews and gather information from employees.
If they find any violations of safety rules or anything that harms employees, they can charge Georgia-Pacific Mill with penalties.
About heavy machinery injuries in the workplace
Cline is just one of the thousands of people who have become victims of machinery accidents.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, reports that more than 800 deaths due to heavy machinery accidents are happening annually, along with employees sustaining 18,000 amputations, crushing injuries, abrasions, and lacerations.
OSHA also declares its “fatal four,” which are the most common injuries incurred by employees in the workplace:
- Falls
- Electrocution
- Getting caught or trapped by heavy equipment
- Being struck by accidents
These incidents are mostly caused by insufficient training and awareness of safety hazards, failure to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), machine weight, and lack of experience.
However, no matter the type of work injury, whether from heavy machinery accidents, electrical shock, or heat illness, following safety procedures and practices is essential to prevent any workplace mishaps.
Workers’ compensation lawyer for heavy machinery injuries and deaths
Cline’s death underpins how workers in manufacturing, transportation, mining, and related industries are inevitably exposed to dangerous machinery.
If you ever get caught in workplace accidents resulting in injuries, report the incident to your company as soon as possible and detail the exact happenings and injuries you’ve sustained.
Workers in the United States are entitled to certain protections by the law if they ever get injured at work. For example, employees are eligible for workers’ compensation death benefits, which provide financial support for the family of the deceased.
Complications can occur with your insurers or employer, as some may try to deny your family the workers’ compensation death benefits or any other types of advantages they are entitled to.
That’s when a workers’ compensation lawyer steps in and helps.
Pond Lehocky Giordano is a workers’ compensation lawyer who fights for workers’ rights, including those negatively affected by heavy machinery accidents, like Cline.
Over the years, we’ve won 100,000 cases, all thanks to the skill and dedication of our expert legal team, who have devoted themselves to helping workers fight for what’s rightfully theirs.
For a free, no-obligation consultation, call 1-800-568-7500 or contact us online today.
