Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. mill had history of safety violations

Records indicate that the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. pulp mill in Longview, Washington, had a history of safety complaints, poor maintenance, and toxic chemical discharges prior to a fatal accident in May. The collapse of a chemical tank at the facility resulted in the deaths of 11 workers, marking one of the deadliest U.S. workplace accidents in recent decades.

Since 2016, the state Department of Ecology has issued 54 environmental violation notices to the company, resulting in $41,500 in fines. Additionally, the Department of Labor and Industries has investigated over a dozen safety complaints since 2018. Since 2015, more than $2.4 million in workers’ compensation claims have been paid for 169 employees injured on the job, including those related to caustic substance exposure.

Chemical engineering expert Stephen Kmiotek described the pattern of equipment failures and violations as a ‘red flag,’ suggesting the site had not been properly maintained, creating risks for both employees and the public. Investigations into the tank collapse and subsequent incidents remain ongoing.