Oregon Worker Crushed in Sawmill Collapse; OSHA Cites Employer for Serious Safety Violations
A 39-year-old worker was fatally crushed when unstable lumber stacks collapsed at an Oregon sawmill, leading state safety officials to issue serious citations and renew warnings about widespread stacking and storage hazards across multiple industries.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Nov 24, 2025
A 39-year-old worker was fatally crushed at an Oregon sawmill in April after two towering units of rough-cut lumber collapsed onto him while he was cleaning debris in the yard, state safety officials said.
The worker, employed by a staffing agency and assigned to the mill, had stepped off his forklift just before the stacks toppled, according to Oregon OSHA. Investigators said the company allowed lumber to be stored in an unstable manner, violating basic safety requirements under the Oregon Safe Employment Act, which guarantees workers the right to safe and healthy working conditions.
Oregon OSHA cited the employer for two serious violations with initial penalties totaling $43,401. One violation — related to improper design and arrangement of pile foundations — was classified as directly contributing to the worker’s death, a category that carries higher penalties.
The agency said the company failed to:
• Secure unstable lumber piles or block worker access to hazardous areas through fencing or barricades.
• Ensure stacked lumber rested on stable foundations capable of supporting maximum loads without sinking, sagging or toppling.
The company has since corrected the violations and filed an appeal.
State officials said the death was preventable and reflects a broader pattern of stacking and storage hazards across multiple industries, including warehouses, construction, manufacturing, agriculture and retail. Hazards range from falling objects and collapsing stacks to struck-by incidents and trip-and-fall risks created by obstructed aisles.
In one recent retail case, Oregon OSHA found an employer had willfully exposed workers to unsecured merchandise stacked more than seven feet high. During a follow-up inspection, an employee attempting to correct the hazard became trapped at the waist when the merchandise collapsed; a co-worker helped free the worker.
“Workers have the right to speak up when something feels unsafe — and to do so without retaliation,” the agency said. Employers, it added, are responsible for understanding and complying with safety rules and can seek help through Oregon OSHA’s free consultation services, which do not result in citations or penalties.
Violations Cited
Sawmill – 29 CFR 1910.265
• (c)(27)(iii): Unstable lumber piles were not secured or barricaded to prevent employees from entering areas where they could fall.
• (c)(27)(i): Lumber units were not stacked on foundations designed to support maximum loads, increasing the risk of sinking or toppling.
Retail – 29 CFR 1910.176(b)
• Materials stored in tiers were not stacked, blocked or interlocked to prevent sliding or collapse, exposing workers to struck-by and trip hazards.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for OH&S.