The investigation into MVR Timber Cutting Inc, began in May 2024 when L&I received a report that a then 17-year-old worker was injured on the job. He fractured his foot jumping from one tree stump to another. L&I expanded the investigation when it learned the teen was working as a member of the company logging crew.

“Logging is an incredibly high-injury industry, and teens under the age of 18 are strictly prohibited by federal and state regulations from working in logging occupations because of that danger,” said Bryan Templeton, Employment Standards program manager.

Violations lead to fines

In January, L&I fined the company $56,000 for allowing the teen to work in logging operations 56 times. State regulations prohibit teens under the age of 18 from working a job where safety regulations require more extensive personal protective equipment than boots, gloves, and safety glasses. They also can’t work in hard hat zones. That’s why L&I fined MVR an additional $56,000 for allowing the teen to work where a hard hat is required 56 times.

State youth employment laws also limit the hours when a teen under the age of 18 can work and how much they can work each day and each week. L&I fined the company $2,300 for violating hours-of-work regulations for minors.

The fines total $114,300.

The company has appealed the citation.

Protecting young workers

The employer told L&I’s Child Labor Unit the injured teen was working as a choker setter. It was his job to wrap a thick cable -– the choker -- around a fallen tree. The cable is connected to other equipment to lift the tree and carry it to a landing area.

Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industries –- which includes logging and are one category in L&I job safety reports -- consistently rank in the top five for most dangerous workplaces in Washington.

“Washington’s youth employment laws and rules are in place to make sure our youngest workers are safe, not overworked, and remain focused on their most important task -- school work,” Templeton added.