EPA and OSHA Investigations Lead to Convictions of Company Officials in Deadly Mill Explosion Case

Summary:

On October 13, 2023, a federal jury convicted current and former Didion Milling Inc. officials of workplace safety, environmental, fraud, and obstruction of justice charges related to a deadly 2017 explosion at a corn mill in Cambria, Wisconsin. Five workers were killed, and others were seriously injured. The officials, including Derrick Clark, Vice President of Operations, and Shawn Mesner, former Food Safety Superintendent, were found guilty of conspiring to falsify documents, making false certifications, and obstructing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) investigation. The convictions send a message that EPA and its law enforcement partners will investigate and prosecute companies that prioritize profits over worker health and safety.