On April 22, 2015 a contractor and two members of USW Local 9-738 were injured while working at the Riegelwood International Paper mill. The complete details are unknown at this time but the preliminary findings are as follows. A non-union contractor was working in the Digester area of the Pulp Mill when an overhead corroded I-beam fell striking him on the leg causing a compound fracture. The nearby IP employees, who were in the control room, heard the injured and rushed to assist him. During this time, one overhead concrete roof slab fell striking both of the IP employees. A third IP employee arrived in the area and was able to get everyone relocated without getting injured. We are waiting to hear the medical conditions of our two brothers, but it appears one has a possible neck injury and the other has neck and shoulder pain. The contractor is believed to only have a leg injury at this point.
The contractor appears to have been working alone and he was drilling holes in the concrete floor with an impact drill when the I-beam fell. There were other tools in the work-area, including rigging equipment. Work had been done the day before in the area and perhaps to the I-beam components, but it is believed the I-beam was too weak for using it as an anchor for the chain fall hoist to assist in setting a new blower in place. It is still unclear if the beam was loaded at the time it fell. The area was roped off and after doing such, other concrete roof slabs fell to the floor. It appears the area is secured now that the remaining pieces of roof slabs have fallen.
Joe Smith, Emergency Response Team District Coordinator will assist the family and Steve Sallman, Health Safety and Environment Staff will assist the local with the investigation. We are committed to discovering the details and root cause of the accident and sharing them with all USW Paper Locals. We want to remove any similar hazards and prevent further incidents of this kind that could injure our members or other workers at USW paper locations in the future.