TOMAHAWK (WAOW) - One man has died after an industrial
accident at a plant in Lincoln County. Authorities say Dennis Jay Gougeon, 47,
of Ontonagon, Michigan died after being burned by fly ash.
The incident happened just before 8:30 a.m.
on Tuesday at Packaging Corporation of America near Tomahawk. Officials say
Gougeon and Dustin Dean Hale, 29, were burned by fly ash, a product typically
produced during the burning of coal.
According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's
Department the two men were contractors from Ontonagon, Michigan. The two were
working at the mill when the incident occurred.
The extent of Hale's injuries are unknown.
Authorities say both men were taken to a Madison hospital after the
incident.
OSHA officials say they
are sending someone to determine if an investigation is necessary.
"Our employee will talk with workers and
determine if there were any health or safety violations the contributed to the
accident," OSHA spokesperson Rhonda Burke said.
The human resources manager at PCA, a
company that makes packaging, says the investigation into what happened is still
in the very early stages.
This is not the first time there has been
an incident at this location. In July of 2008 a recycled fiber storage tank
exploded, killing three employees and injuring a fourth.
According to OSHA records, the company was
cited with six safety violations and had to pay a fine of more than
$22,000.
OSHA officials say their investigator is
expected to arrive on scene within 24 hours. If they do decide an investigation
is necessary they have up to six months to complete it.
The Lincoln County Sheriff's Department is
also conducting their own investigation into what happened.
