An inspection contractor found a chemical tank at a Washington state paper mill "not fit for continued service" 10 months before it failed in May, resulting in the deaths of 11 individuals in one of the deadliest workplace disasters in recent U.S. history, according to a federal report released on August 28, 2026. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board's update regarding the May 26 failure in Longview, which expelled enough caustic liquid to blow out building walls, is part of an ongoing investigation to determine the cause of the failure.
The board reported that the contractor provided Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company with recommendations for internal inspections and shell repairs, but the company did not take any action between a July 2025 inspection and the May 2026 failure. Nippon spokesperson Sam Jefferies stated, "Because the investigation remains ongoing, we will not comment on individual findings or documents at this time. Our focus remains on supporting affected families and employees and taking the necessary steps toward fully reopening the Longview facility." Jefferies also indicated that the company will continue to cooperate fully with the board.
The Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers described the board's findings as "deeply troubling," raising urgent questions about how technical findings and recommendations concerning the tank were communicated and evaluated. The statement emphasized the need for a complete accounting of the decision-making process regarding the tank's continued operation.
Kyle Findley, a lawyer representing the family of two brothers who died in the incident, called the findings "nothing short of alarming," stating, "When safety inspections and recommendations don't lead to action, danger becomes a reality that causes devastation to human life." Findley affirmed the commitment to ensure accountability for those responsible for the accident.
Democratic U.S. Senator Patty Murray expressed that the community deserves answers and emphasized that every worker has the right to return home safely.
The contractor's July 2025 inspection revealed "significant thinning" below the minimum safe thickness in the lower regions of the tank. The minimum safe thickness is a critical threshold for the tank's ability to contain liquid pressure and support its weight. The board's report noted that the contractor identified that "large portions of the tank remained thinner than the calculated minimum safe wall thickness" during subsequent inspections in October 2025 and February 2026. Despite these findings, the company did not remove the tank from operation or reduce its service capacity.
The tank failure released approximately 900,000 gallons (3.4 million liters) of a caustic liquid known as white liquor, which is used in the paper-making process and can cause severe burns. In addition to the fatalities, several others and one firefighter sustained injuries.
Steve Owens, Chairperson of the board, expressed concern that the tank was not promptly removed from service or properly repaired following the inspection findings. An excerpt from the July 2025 inspection indicated that the tank was "not fit for continued service unless corrected," with a high likelihood of failure.
The catastrophic failure occurred shortly after employees began arriving at around 7 a.m. A vessel called a digestor was removed from service for repairs shortly before 2 a.m., leading to a situation where the tank continued to fill with white liquor. The tank failed less than an hour later, flooding the courtyard, crushing vehicles, and damaging surrounding buildings. All eight workers in the electrical maintenance shop and one worker in the courtyard were killed, while others were injured from chemical exposure.
The company radioed for its medical emergency response team without indicating that white liquor had been released, resulting in a team member being seriously injured after wading into the chemical, believing it was water.
Earlier this week, the Washington Department of Ecology issued notice of 35 environmental violations to Nippon Dynawave, which oversees the facility's compliance with environmental regulations. The board's investigation is ongoing, with complete findings expected in the final report.