The U.S. Labor Department on Thursday announced it has obtained an order requiring a Wisconsin sawmill operator to make certain compliance efforts after a teen worker suffered fatal injuries this summer.
Green Bay-based Florence Hardwoods LLC must place labels and signage at its sawmill warning workers under the age of 18 about the hazards involved with using dangerous equipment.
The judicial order follows the death of a 16-year-old in June.
During its investigation, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration learned of other teens who were injured at work in separate incidents in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and they also discovered the company employed nine children ages 14 to 17 to illegally operate dangerous machinery used to process lumber.
After the 16-year-old’s death, the company terminated all employees under age 18 at its Green Bay facility and it agreed to pay $190,696 in civil penalties to resolve child labor violations, according to OSHA.