Maine Paper Mill Fined Nearly $800K After Two Workers Die

Woodland Pulp and Paper is facing a fine of nearly $800,000 for the deaths of two employees.

Baileyville, Maine Mill Fined Nearly $800K for Two Worker Deaths

Kasie Malcolm was a 20-year-old chemical engineering student at the University of Maine who had been interning at the Baileyville mill since June 2025, while Allen Hornberger was a 26-year-old process engineer who had joined the mill in September.

Both men died after a cold weather shutdown at Woodland Pulp and Paper caused them to be exposed to high concentrations of deadly hydrogen sulfide gas.

OSHA Cites Maine Mill and Issues $700K+ Fine After Employee Deaths

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued multiple citations and a proposed fine for two incidents, including the deaths of Malcolm and Hornberger.

The other incident involved a chemical fire in March that ignited after the employer released 4,400 gallons of 50 percent hydrogen peroxide mixed with an accumulation of wood pulp.

The citations include the company's exposing workers to deadly hydrogen sulfide gas without proper alarms or breathing devices and allowing a buildup of overflow wood pulp in storage areas; lack of worker training on hydrogen peroxide risks; failure to conduct medical evaluations and fit tests for respirator users; and neglecting to label chlorine and acid lines, or control hydrogen sulfide exposure risks.

Baileyville, Maine Mill Owners Can Contest OSHA's Nearly $800K Fine

The proposed fine totals $794,456.

Woodland Pulp has 15 business days from the day they received the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

We'll update this story as more details become available.