International Paper’s Vicksburg mill has been fined $77,000 by OSHA in the May 3 explosion that killed a man and injured 17 other people.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced the fines this morning.

“The fines reflect the company’s failure to establish procedures for a re-start of the recovery boiler without the power boiler being on-line,” said Clyde Payne, OSHA’s area director in Jackson. “Employees were exposed to a fire and explosion because the employer failed to develop written boiler set-up and operating procedures.”

IP received one alleged willful and one serious violation. The willful violation, defined by OSHA as a violation committed with plain indifference to or international disregard for employee safety and health, is for failing to start the recovery boiler without adequate steam and not developing safe procedures to start up the recovery boiler when the primary power boiler is off-line. The serious violation, defined by OSHA as a violation that could cause death or serious physical harm to employees and the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard, is for failing to have written procedures to determine that an adequate amount of odorant was being added to the natural gas supply line coming into the power plant — an indicator that the highly volatile gas is present.

“We will never forget the tragic events of May 3 and the impact the accident had on many lives,” IP said in a written statement this morning. “We have cooperated closely with OSHA throughout their investigation and are committed to preventing anything like this from happening again. We are continuing to review the findings with OSHA, and we have 15 days to contest the findings if we choose to do so.  Looking ahead, what’s most important is that our employees are back to work and the mill is back up and running following a safe start-up. We’re focused on returning our workplace to world-class standards of safety and efficiency.”

The company, headquartered in Memphis and operating the Vicksburg mill on Mississippi 3 since the 1960s, is a paper and packaging manufacturer operating throughout the world. About 400 people, including IP’s 306 regular employees, were at the mill when the boiler exploded, and, according to Tom Macher, the mill’s manager, the explosion was the mill’s first during its 40-year history.

Killed in the blast was 28-year-old Marcus Christopher Broome, who had a wife and twin 4-year-old daughters. The 17 injured were contract employees who have never been identified by IP or the contractor.

At least two lawsuits have been filed against International Paper by injured contract employees.

In May, 52-year-old Glen Rankin of Claiborne County, who was treated and released from River Region Medical Center the day of the blast, filed a suit seeking $1 million and punitive damages. In addition to International Paper, the Rankin suit defendants include 20 unknown “John Does” who were involved in the design, manufacture, testing, maintenance and repair of the boiler.

IP has denied all accusations of negligence in that suit.

In June, brothers Robert T. “Terry” and Kenneth Townsend — who spent months in critical condition at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Ga. — filed a suit seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

The company announced today it has safely and successfully restarted operations at its Vicksburg mill in Redwood following completion of repairs to the mill’s recovery boiler.

“We remain fully committed to the safe operation of the Vicksburg Mill and are pleased that our employees are back to work,” said Mill Manager Tom Macher. “At the same time, we will never forget the tragic events of May 3 and the impact the accident had on many lives.”

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Contact Megan Holland at mholland@vicksburgpost.com.