Records show Nippon Dynawave knew tank was unsafe months before collapse

A Washington pulp mill where 11 workers died when a chemical tank collapsed in May had a documented history of safety complaints, poor maintenance and toxic chemical discharges, according to records reviewed by The Associated Press. The state Department of Ecology issued 54 environmental violation notices against Nippon Dynawave Packaging since 2016, while the state labor agency investigated more than a dozen safety complaints since 2018 and imposed additional fines. Records also show that 169 employees suffered workplace injuries since 2015, generating more than $2.4 million in workers’ compensation claims, including claims involving caustic-substance exposure. State inspectors were preparing to interview workers about two unrelated complaints when the tank failed, and documents indicate the company knew the tank was unfit for continued service months before the collapse. Investigations by state and federal agencies remain ongoing.