An investigation conducted by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has determined that Two Rivers Terminal LLC could have prevented the death of one of its workers. The company, which manufactures fertilizer, has a history of safety violations and putting employees at risk. The incident occurred in June 2024 when a 56-year-old worker was attempting to clean out a tanker truck with a hose. According to L&I, the fertilizer residue inside the tank created hydrogen sulfide gas that killed him.
When the incident occurred, Two Rivers Terminal was in the process of appealing two safety citations issued by L&I in 2022 and 2023 totaling $672,320. The company has been cited for 96 serious and 43 general violations over the past three years and is part of L&I’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
During its most recent inspection, L&I cited the company for three willful serious, five repeat serious, and three serious violations. These violations include:
Allowing a worker to enter a permit-required confined space without air monitoring, attendants, ventilation, PPE, or a way to communicate
Not training workers in chemical hazards or on working in confined spaces
Two Rivers Terminal now faces an additional $394,200 in fines.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, Craig Blackwood, assistant director for L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, said, “This incident is heartbreaking and frustrating. Mr. Voloshin’s death was completely preventable. Two Rivers Terminal continues to ignore the safety rules despite being fined over and over again,” said Blackwood. “We hope this significant fine will motivate them to do the right thing to protect their workers.”
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