PHENIX, Ala. — A 67-year-old man was killed in an accident at an Alabama lumber mill. His death was the second such death at the mill in the last three years and the third in the last 14 years.

James Streetman, a maintenance worker at the facility, was found trapped in a piece of equipment at the Phenix Lumber Mill in Phenix City, Ala.

On August 23, 2023, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the Phenix City Police Department and the Phenix City Fire Department responded to a call at the Phenix Lumber Company, 4 Cutrate RD.

According to Capt. Skip Lassiter of the Criminal Investigations Unit, “Upon arrival on scene, units were directed to the sawmill area of the plant. Police were advised an employee was stuck inside a piece of equipment. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that James Streetman, a 67-year-old maintenance employee was deceased.”
The Phenix City Police Department Criminal Investigations Division and the Phenix City Fire Department began an investigation that is currently ongoing and notified OSHA. 

“This,” said Lassiter, “is the second major incident at Phenix Lumber in three years. On May 27. 2020,  Brandon Lee Vandyck, was found deceased inside of a piece of equipment.”

There have also been more incidents prior to these two. In 2010, 52-year-old Charles Mercer died after a piece of machinery fell on his head. In December 2010, OSHA began its investigation after multiple hand injuries and one finger amputation were discovered.

In a 2011 OSHA statement, the agency said that Phenix Lumber Company has been cited 77 times by OSHA for serious health and safety violations.

At that time, OSHA has charged the lumber company nearly $2,000,0000 in fines. The fines were given for willfully exposing employees to amputation hazards, the possibility of being caught between or hit by pieces of machinery and falling lumber.

According to OSHA, Phenix Lumber has also failed to train 11 of its employees on how to properly shut down their machines. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited MDLG, doing business as Phenix Lumber Co., for 53 safety and health violations following the death of one worker and the critical injury of a second at its Phenix City facility. Proposed penalties total $439,400.

Dr. David Michaels, who was the Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA at the time, said "Phenix Lumber failed to protect its workers from death and serious injury. Employers are legally bound to provide a safe work environment for their employees. This company has repeatedly failed to do so, costing one worker his life and grievously injuring another. This must stop."