Updated
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – A Chehalis logging company has been cited for two serious violations in connection with the death of an 18-year-old employee who was crushed by a piece of equipment south of Boistfort last May.
Cole Bostwick of Winlock was setting chokers for a logging operation when a carriage was accidentally lowered onto him, killing him instantly.
Cole Bostwick
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office identified the employer as ENB Logging and Trucking, but the state Department of Labor and Industries reports it was ENB Logging and Construction Inc.
An investigation conducted by L&I found the employer did not ensure the chokerman was in the clear as the Danebo drift carriage was being lowered for slack and also that the business’s accident prevention program was not tailored to the needs of the operation, specifically that it didn’t explain or address the differences in the hazards of using a drift carriage and a motorized carriage.
An assistant fire chief who responded to the scene on May 21 described the carriage in question as a metal piece roughly six feet long and not very wide that traveled along a cable to assist in retrieving logs. He estimated it weighed two tons.
The penalty assessed is $7,800, according to the inspector’s report dated Oct. 1.
ENB has appealed the citations, according to a spokesperson from L&I.
The accident occurred about 14 miles off Pe Ell McDonald Road, on property owned by Green Diamond Resource Co. The teen’s father was on the job with him.
Tyler Bryan
A Mossyrock logging company was cited for a serious violation earlier this year, after the death of a 21-year-old employee, who was struck by a log being pulled up a slope with a cable. Tyler Bryan, of Toledo, died on Feb. 10 at the site north of Morton.
Brintech Technical Logging Inc. did not appeal and paid the $2,600 fine, according to L&I spokesperson Elaine Fischer.
In that case, the same inspector found the employer did not ensure the three-man rigging crew was in the clear when a “turn” of logs was moving to the landing, according to the inspector’s report. The crew was within 40 feet of the skyline when the tail hold failed, causing the logs to fall towards them, according to the report.
John B. Leonard
And a March death from a logging injury in the Salkum area brought a citation for an Winlock logging business, according to Fischer.
A fine of $1,800 was assessed against TJB Enterprises Inc. for a serious violation.
John B. Leonard, 69, airlifted to a Seattle hospital on March 27 after he was struck by a large limb while working on acreage just north of the 2200 block of U.S. Highway 12.
The L&I report contends the employer did not ensure before falling that various conditions did not create a hazard.
TJB has appealed.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
So in this county the price of two human beings of the working class is worth about ten grand. Sickening
I am not so much concerned with what picture we remember these two great kids with as I am with the pittance that the companies had to pay in fines. And then they appeal the fine, obviously because they might have to pay compensation to the families if they admit fault. I beg my students not to depend on logging for a living because of the danger, especially when you are low man on the list.
its just a picture probably there Facebook profile picture don’t be so pc if there didn’t want it used it wouldn’t be on the Internet how is it disrespectful that’s obviously how he wanted to be portrayed in life so maybe don’t worry about the pic and worry about the standards in which these people are working in
Tyler probably would’ve picked this picture.
What if that’s the picture the family wanted to use?
I agree with reality check, in a day and age where the news carries a lot of weight and peoples opinions are molded by their subconscious you can’t go using a picture of a person who has been killed, especially one like the one chosen. I feel like it is a huge disrespect to the family.
no disrespect intended but maybe the pic of Tyler shouldn’t have him boasting a beer…Maybe a more respectful pic of someone should be posted after their death.