November 6, 2026 · Washington State · Published by Beverly Law
Hurt or lost a loved one at work in Washington?
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Key facts
| DATE | March 8, 2024 (report dated Nov. 2, 2026) |
| LOCATION | A paper mill in Washington State (the report does not name it) |
| WHAT HAPPENED | A 32-year-old machine operator was crushed under the stacker arms of a unitizer while clearing a jam, according to L&I |
| AGENCY | Washington L&I: WA FACE program and Division of Occupational Safety and Health |
| STATUS | Preliminary fatality narrative; L&I says it is not a final determination of cause |
What the state report says
The narrative comes from L&I’s WA FACE program. According to the report, the machine, called a unitizer, stacked cardboard boxes on a conveyor, and its stacker arms got stuck on poorly taped boxes minutes after the operator’s shift began. Investigators found that he entered the perimeter gate without first de-energizing the machine, although he had machine-specific lockout/tagout training, and that the employer did not enforce its lockout/tagout policies or properly supervise machine operators. About 35 minutes after his last call, two coworkers found him pinned under the stacker arms, and first responders pronounced him dead at the scene, the report says. Occupational Health & Safety reported the findings on Nov. 3.
| Item | What L&I’s report says |
|---|---|
| Machine guards | Removed by a supervisor in 2017 when a perimeter gate was installed |
| Hazard assessments | Three between 2016 and 2021 recommended interlocking gate doors |
| Interlocking doors | Approved a few months before the death; construction began two weeks before |
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The law that applies
RCW 51.32.050 — DEATH BENEFITS
When a work injury causes death, Washington’s industrial insurance system pays burial expenses and monthly benefits to a surviving spouse and children based on the worker’s wages.
RCW 51.24.030 — THIRD-PARTY ACTIONS
An injured worker or a deceased worker’s beneficiary may seek damages from a third person who is not in the worker’s same employ, and must notify L&I or the self-insurer when the case is filed.
What Washington law says after a workplace death
Under RCW 51.32.050, when a work injury causes death, the state system pays burial expenses and monthly benefits to a surviving spouse, based on wages and the number of children. RCW 51.24.030 lets an injured worker or beneficiary also seek damages from a third person outside the worker’s same employ.
| Claim | Deadline | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Workers’ compensation claim | One year after the injury, or after the rights of dependents or beneficiaries accrued (limited exceptions) | RCW 51.28.050 |
| Lawsuit for injury to the person | Three years | RCW 4.16.080(2) |
What this means for your case
After a machine injury or death in Washington, L&I inspection files and guarding or maintenance records can show who built or modified the equipment, which bears on whether anyone besides the employer may share responsibility. The one-year claim deadline runs separately from the three-year lawsuit limit, so it helps to start early. Beverly Law handles Washington cases; learn more on our Washington page or our practice areas. Call (310) 552-6959 for a free consultation. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
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Related pages
Injury news · Washington work injuries and third-party claims · Vancouver injury lawyers · Washington · Law Blog
Sources
- WA L&I FACE report 71-283-2026: Paper Mill Operator Crushed in Packaging Machine (Nov. 2, 2026)
- WA L&I Work-Related Fatalities (FACE) program page
- Occupational Health & Safety: Washington Report Details Fatal Paper Mill Machine Accident (Nov. 3, 2026)
- RCW 51.32.050 Death benefits
- RCW 51.24.030 Action against third person
- RCW 51.28.050 Time limit for filing a claim
- RCW 4.16.080 Actions limited to three years
Important: This page is general information, not legal or medical advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; talk to a lawyer about yours. Texas cases are handled by the firm’s Texas-licensed attorneys. Last reviewed: November 6, 2026.