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Lynnway Auto Auction Settles After Multiple Fatalities

April 12, 2018
Company must pay $200,000 in penalties.

In May 2017, five people were fatally struck and killed during an auction at Lynnway Auto Auction in North Billerica, Mass.

Now, the U.S. Department of Labor is requiring the company as well as a temporary employment agency that supplied workers to Lynnway to pay penalties and make major revisions to their safety practices.

“The settlement commits Lynnway to correct existing hazards, and requires it to take continuous action to help prevent future employee injuries or fatalities,” said OSHA Regional Administrator Galen Blanton, in a statement.

Shortly after the incident, OSHA investigators found 16 safety and health violations. In order to fix these, Lynnway Auto Auction has agreed to designate and mark non-driving locations, walkways, and crosswalks; install barriers in the auto auction area; establish and enforce speed limits and a safe driving program; periodically evaluate employees’ driving capabilities and licenses; provide employee training and review all vehicle accidents or near-misses, according to the agency.

The company must also pay $200,000 in fines. However, Lynnway was not the only employer charged.

TrueBlue Inc., doing business as PeopleReady, supplied temporary employees to work auctions. The company also agreed to correct hazards, implement a traffic control program and pay a $12,675 penalty. OSHA cited the staffing firm for exposing employees to struck-by hazards.

“The processes put into place by this agreement have the goal of ensuring that such needless loss of lives will not occur again,” said Regional Solicitor of Labor Michael Felsen.

The settlement became a final order of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission on April 5, and the TrueBlue settlement agreement became final on March 5. 

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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