Washington State has widened its workplace safety initiative following the fatal tank collapse at Nippon Dynawave's Longview mill, launching inspections at the state's two other operating kraft pulp mills while expanding oversight of hazardous chemical storage across the paper industry.
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) confirmed that inspectors are now reviewing operations at Smurfit Westrock's Longview mill and Port Townsend Paper Company's facility in Port Townsend. Both mills use the kraft pulping process, which relies on chemicals such as white liquor to separate wood fibers during pulp production.
The expanded inspections follow the May 26 collapse of a white liquor storage tank at Nippon Dynawave, an accident that killed 11 workers and is regarded as the deadliest industrial disaster in modern Washington State history.
According to L&I, inspectors will assess the condition of chemical storage tanks, maintenance and repair records, operating procedures, environmental reports related to spills or containment failures, and records of workplace injuries or near misses involving tank operations. The reviews are expected to take several months, with findings to be released once the investigations are complete.
Governor Bob Ferguson said the inspections are intended to help ensure similar facilities identify and address potential hazards before another serious incident occurs. L&I Director Joel Sacks described the initiative as a proactive measure to strengthen worker safety throughout Washington's pulp and paper sector.
The agency is also launching a separate enforcement program covering the state's seven non-kraft pulp and paper mills. Scheduled to run through February 2027, the initiative will examine how hazardous chemicals are stored and managed, with inspections aimed at verifying compliance with workplace safety regulations. Employers found in violation could face citations and financial penalties.
The announcement comes as cleanup efforts at the Nippon Dynawave site reach an important milestone. State officials confirmed that the emergency phase of the response has ended after crews removed the remaining white liquor from the failed Tank G, 37 days after the collapse.
An inspection of the tank found only solidified residue remaining, eliminating the immediate risk of another chemical release. Nippon Dynawave will now oversee the removal and disposal of the remaining material as dismantling of the damaged tank begins, while investigations into the cause of the collapse continue.
