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The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed $794,456 in penalties against Woodland Pulp LLC following investigations into two separate chemical incidents at the company's Baileyville, Maine, pulp mill that resulted in worker fatalities and raised broader concerns about chemical safety in wood products manufacturing.
According to OSHA, two employees died on Jan. 27, 2026, after being exposed to high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) during a cold-weather shutdown. The agency determined workers were exposed to uncontrolled levels of the toxic gas without adequate monitoring systems or respiratory protection.
A second investigation examined a March 7, 2026, chemical fire that occurred after approximately 4,400 gallons of 50 percent hydrogen peroxide were released and mixed with accumulated wood pulp on the ground.
OSHA issued four willful citations, alleging Woodland Pulp failed to protect employees from dangerous hydrogen sulfide exposures by not providing appropriate gas monitoring, warning alarms and breathing equipment. The agency also cited the company for allowing wood pulp to accumulate in storage areas where it could contribute to hazardous conditions.
In addition, OSHA issued eight serious citations involving employee training, respiratory protection, chemical hazard communication and process safety. The agency said the violations included failing to train workers on hydrogen peroxide hazards, conduct required medical evaluations and respirator fit testing, properly identify chlorine and acid lines, and adequately control hydrogen sulfide exposure risks.
For manufacturers across the surface and panel industry, the enforcement action underscores the importance of comprehensive process safety programs wherever hazardous chemicals are used or generated. Facilities involved in pulp production, composite panel manufacturing, wood processing and industrial finishing often rely on chemicals that require robust hazard communication, ventilation, gas monitoring and emergency response procedures.
OSHA noted that Woodland Pulp has been inspected 13 times since 2017, resulting in multiple citations. The agency also pointed to a 2017 incident in which 14 employees were hospitalized following a chemical exposure in the same area of the facility involved in the current investigation.
Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless, highly toxic and flammable gas that can occur naturally or be produced during industrial processes involving organic materials. OSHA warns that exposure to elevated concentrations can rapidly become life-threatening, making continuous monitoring, engineering controls and proper respiratory protection critical components of workplace safety.
Woodland Pulp has 15 business days to comply with the citations, request an informal conference with OSHA or contest the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
