Sawmill operator agrees to compliance with federal child labor laws after Wisconsin teen suffers fatal injuries operating dangerous machinery

GREEN BAY, WI – U.S. Department of Labor Obtains Federal Consent Order and Judgment Against Sawmill Operator

The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a federal consent order and judgment against sawmill operator Florence Hardwoods LLC following the death of a child. The order requires the Florence County company to take specific measures to prevent children under the age of 18 from using dangerous equipment and entering the company’s sawmill and planer buildings. This action is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

Preventing Child Labor and Ensuring Safety

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division conducted an investigation into the death of a 16-year-old worker at the Wisconsin sawmill. The investigation revealed severe injuries suffered by the teenager on June 29, 2023, at Florence Hardwoods, which ultimately led to his death two days later. As part of the investigation, the department invoked the “hot goods” provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Federal Child Labor Regulations

In the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Green Bay Division, Florence Hardwoods agreed to comply with federal child labor regulations now and in the future. The court ordered the company to strictly adhere to these regulations, ensuring the safety and well-being of young workers.

Combating Child Labor Exploitation

The U.S. Department of Labor announced the creation of an Interagency Task Force to Combat Child Labor Exploitation in February 2023. This task force, led by the department, includes various government departments to improve cross-training, outreach, education, and health outcomes for children vulnerable to child labor. The administration is committed to a whole-of-government approach to eradicate child labor and achieve the SDGs.

Findings of the Investigation

• Three children, aged 15 to 16, suffered injuries in November 2021, July 2022, and March 2023. One child suffered injuries on two separate occasions.
• Florence Hardwoods employed nine children, aged 14 to 17, to operate hazardous machinery, which is considered illegal under federal law.
• The company employed seven children, aged 14 and 15, outside legally permitted working hours.

Legal Actions and Accountability

The Solicitor’s Office of the U.S. Department of Labor will use all legal tools available to combat child labor, including pressuring supply chains to hold their suppliers accountable. The Fair Labor Standards Act prohibits the shipment of “hot goods” removed from the producing establishment within 30 days after a child labor violation. The division also alerted two customers of Florence Hardwoods about the hot goods provision, leading them to voluntarily refrain from shipping the goods until the legal matter was resolved.

Preventing Future Violations

Florence Hardwoods agreed to several conditions to prevent future violations of the FLSA’s child labor provisions:

• Placing signage to warn children not to enter the sawmill and planer buildings at its locations.
• Using the division’s Youth Employment Compliance Assistance Toolkit for employee training and maintaining training logs.
• Auditing machinery and labeling machines with age restrictions for operators.
• Providing employees with fact sheets on child labor.

Continued Enforcement and Compliance

In fiscal year 2022, the Wage and Hour Division identified child labor violations in 835 cases, resulting in over $4.3 million in penalties assessed to employers. The division remains committed to holding violators accountable and using all available resources to combat the illegal employment of children.

For more information about the Wage and Hour Division, visit their official website.

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, Green Bay, WI

Su v. Florence Hardwoods LLC, Civil Action No. 23-C-1167

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDGs addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article:

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

2. Specific targets under those SDGs based on the article’s content:

• SDG 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor.
• SDG 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

3. Indicators mentioned or implied in the article:

• Number of child labor violations identified by the Wage and Hour Division (Indicator for SDG 8.7)
• Amount of penalties assessed on employers for child labor violations (Indicator for SDG 8.7)

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: dol.gov

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