Olympia Timber Company Fined for Employing Teen in Hazardous Logging Job
Washington Timber Company Fined $115K for Child Labor Violations After Teen Injured.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Mar 04, 2025
A Washington timber company has been fined nearly $115,000 for child labor violations after a 17-year-old worker was injured while working in a logging operation. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) issued the citation against MVR Timber Cutting Inc. following an investigation into the incident.
The investigation began in May 2024 when L&I received a report of a workplace injury involving the teen, who fractured his foot while jumping between tree stumps. Upon learning that the minor was working as a member of the company’s logging crew, L&I expanded its investigation.
“Logging is an incredibly high-injury industry, and teens under the age of 18 are strictly prohibited by federal and state regulations from working in logging occupations because of that danger,” said Bryan Templeton, Employment Standards program manager at L&I.
Violations Lead to Hefty Fines
In January, L&I fined MVR Timber Cutting Inc. $56,000 for allowing the minor to work in logging operations 56 times. State regulations prohibit minors under 18 from working in jobs requiring more extensive personal protective equipment than boots, gloves, and safety glasses. Additionally, state law bans teens from working in hard hat zones, prompting L&I to issue an additional $56,000 fine for the 56 violations of that regulation.
The company was also cited for violating state youth employment laws regarding work hours for minors, resulting in an additional $2,300 fine. The total penalties amounted to $114,300. MVR Timber Cutting Inc. has since appealed the citation.
Protecting Young Workers
According to L&I, the injured teen was employed as a choker setter, a position requiring him to wrap a thick cable—known as a choker—around felled trees. The cable is then used to lift and transport the logs to a landing area.
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting are among the most hazardous industries in Washington, consistently ranking in the top five for workplace injuries, according to L&I safety reports.
“Washington’s youth employment laws and rules are in place to make sure our youngest workers are safe, not overworked, and remain focused on their most important task—schoolwork,” Templeton said.
For more information on Washington’s workplace safety regulations and child labor laws, visit www.lni.wa.gov.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for OH&S.