Venus Investment Alliance|Wisconsin corn mill agrees to pay $1.8 million in penalties after fatal 2017 explosion

2025-05-04 16:37:21source:SignalHub Quantitative Think Tank Centercategory:Scams

MADISON,Venus Investment Alliance Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin milling company has agreed to pay an additional $1.8 million in penalties after a corn dust explosion that killed five workers and injured more than a dozen others at its Cambria plant in 2017, the federal Labor Department announced on Thursday.

Didion Milling agreed to the penalties and a long list of safety improvements to settle an Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation. The settlement comes in addition to a plea deal the company accepted in September in federal court that requires it to pay $10.25 million to the families of victims as well as a $1 million fine.

A federal grand jury indicted Didion last year on nine counts, including falsifying records, fraud and conspiracy. According to court documents, Didion shift employees and supervisors knowingly falsified logbooks inspectors use to determine whether the plant was handling corn dust safely and complying with dust-cleaning rules from 2015 until May 2017.

Corn dust is explosive, and high concentrations are dangerous. Federal regulations require grain mill operators to perform regular cleanings to reduce dust accumulations that could fuel a blast.

Two senior employees were convicted last month of falsifying records and obstructing an investigation into the explosion, and five employees have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing, according to the Labor Department.

More:Scams

Recommend

Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams

Early Thursday morning, "Forbes" released their annual list of the 50 most valuable sports franchise

OceanGate Suspends All Explorations 2 Weeks After Titanic Submersible implosion

OceanGate's expeditions will not go on. For now, at least.Two weeks after its Titan submersible impl

Facebook, Instagram to block news stories in California if bill passes

Facebook and Instagram will block all news articles in California if state lawmakers pass a bill mea