ISLE OF WIGHT—Penalties have been issued against two companies in regard to the October fatality at ST Tissue.

According to news reports, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry issued citations and penalties to ST Tissue LLC of Franklin and CR Meyer & Sons Co. of Oshkosh, Wis.

The Virginian-Pilot is reporting that penalties totaling $32,100 and $70,000 respectively were issued for violations of OSHA regulations and further reports the two companies are contesting the findings.

The state Dept. of Labor and Industry had been investigating the death of a North Carolina man, James “Jimmy” Denny, who suffered a fatal accident inside the mill.

Denny, 38, of Roanoke Rapids, died after the Oct. 5 accident involving a crane. He was performing contract work for Tak Investments, the parent company of ST Tissue. Tak Investments in April of 2012 began leasing from IP a paper machine, office space, a sheeting warehouse and a recycled fiber facility at the mill. The company is recycling waste paper into tissue for napkins and towels.

The news report indicates that a CR Meyer & Sons employee was operating the crane that allegedly struck Denny but was not trained to run the equipment.