A worker died Wednesday morning after a gas exposure at the Woodland Pulp mill in Baileyville, according to the company’s spokesperson, Scott Beal.
The worker, who Beal said he believes was an intern at the mill, was transported to the hospital Tuesday night following exposure to the gas. The deceased worker was taken to the hospital with one other worker Tuesday evening. The surviving worker’s condition is unknown.
A third worker was taken to the hospital earlier Tuesday afternoon after collapsing and falling unconscious. He has since been released from the hospital, Beal said.
Beal did not know the condition of the second worker.
Eight workers represented by the United Steelworkers Local 27 union were exposed to hydrogen sulfide, local representative Mike Higgins said. Two electricians were also exposed, Higgins said. All 10 were cleared to return to work by medical staff, Higgins said.
Neither of the victims who were hospitalized Tuesday evening are members of Local 27, Higgins said.
Hydrogen sulfide is not used at the plant, however it is a byproduct of the mill’s processes, Higgins said. He did not have additional details related to the chemical’s presence at the plant.
“Breathing low levels of hydrogen sulfide may cause headache, nausea, and irritation to the eyes, nose, or throat,” according to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. “It may also cause difficulty in breathing for some individuals with respiratory problems, such as people with asthma.”
But the longer someone is exposed, the more dangerous the effects.
“Hydrogen sulfide gas causes a wide range of health effects,” the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s webpage on the chemical says. “Workers are primarily exposed to hydrogen sulfide by breathing it. The effects depend on how much hydrogen sulfide you breathe and for how long. Exposure to very high concentrations can quickly lead to death.”
An investigation into the cause of the leak is underway, Beal said. OSHA officials arrived on site this morning, including an industrial hygienist and compliance officer, Beal said.
Woodland Pulp’s management team is fully cooperating with the investigation, Beal said. Local 27 is also coordinating with investigators, Higgins said.
“When we figure out what the root cause is, we’ll do our best to put measures in place so this doesn’t happen again,” Higgins said.
Woodland Pulp has received six OSHA citations since 2022, incurring thousands of dollars in penalties for past safety violations.
Their most recent citation was in Aug. 2024 for a disorderly workspace and overdue equipment evaluations. In Sept. 2022, OSHA cited the plant $8,628.90 for containing “explosive concentrations of dust” in its stairways, walls, ceilings and working surfaces, according to the citation.
The Baileyville Fire Department received notice of the leak at the plant, located at 144 Main St., at about 6:20 p.m. Tuesday, Fire Chief Brandon Ireland said Tuesday evening.