Minnesota-based Wayne Transport Inc. is under scrutiny following a tragic incident in March 2024 that resulted in the death of an employee. The Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Wayne Transport to pay significant penalties totaling $621,600, highlighting severe safety lapses within the company’s operations.
An in-depth investigation conducted by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry revealed that Wayne Transport failed to adequately protect its employees from the dangers associated with confined spaces. This critical oversight directly contributed to the fatality, underscoring the importance of stringent safety protocols in the transportation industry.
The OSHA investigation brought to light a series of violations by Wayne Transport regarding permit-required confined spaces. These violations included a failure to identify and evaluate potential hazards before employees entered confined spaces, neglecting to implement necessary safety procedures, and not testing atmospheric conditions within the confined space prior to entry. Furthermore, Wayne Transport did not provide attendants outside the confined spaces during entry operations and lacked a proper system for issuing and managing entry permits. These multiple failures demonstrate a systemic neglect of confined space safety standards at Wayne Transport.
Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach of the Department of Labor emphasized the critical need for proactive safety measures in the workplace. “Work processes must be designed with the goal of eliminating workplace injuries and illnesses, and workers must be properly trained about how to perform their work safely,” Blissenbach stated. “Before work is performed in a confined space, employers must evaluate the elements of that space and ensure they have a comprehensive plan to protect their employees from potential hazards.” Her statement underscores the preventable nature of workplace accidents when proper safety protocols are in place and diligently followed by companies like Wayne Transport.
Adding to their regulatory woes, Wayne Transport received an additional 10 citations in July 2024 for further violations of general industry and confined space standards. These additional citations reveal a pattern of safety compliance issues extending beyond the immediate circumstances of the fatal incident.
The citations also included failures related to safety datasheets for chemicals in truck tank trailers, which were not easily accessible to employees, and the absence of a joint labor-management safety committee. These broader safety oversights indicate potential systemic issues within Wayne Transport’s safety management practices.
Wayne Transport has responded to these citations by filing a Notice of Contest. This action initiates a negotiation process between Wayne Transport and OSHA to reach a potential settlement agreement. If an agreement cannot be reached, the case will proceed to a hearing before an administrative law judge, according to the Department of Labor and Industry. The outcome of this contest will be crucial for Wayne Transport as they navigate these serious safety violation allegations and strive to ensure a safer working environment in the future.
