KEY FINDINGS

A group of industrial drum reconditioning plants, owned in part by Greif Inc., has disregarded safe practices for handling hazardous materials, harming workers and endangering those who live nearby, as well as the environment. A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation found:

Practices at the six facilities have resulted in workers suffering chemical and heat-related burns, injuries from exploding barrels, breathing difficulties and other health problems.

The operations have caused at least one big fire — heavily damaging an Indianapolis facility, endangering nearby residents and firefighters.

Plants have been cited repeatedly by regulators for dumping too much mercury in the wastewater and toxic emissions into the neighborhood air. At the Milwaukee plant, the safety manager and workers said chemical residue was washed down a floor drain.

Greif’s executives knew of environmental risks in the industry and structured CLCM in a way that could shield the publicly-traded Greif from civil liabilities. Executives told financial analysts in 2010 that “those risks were very real,” and that the company was protected in part by “contractual arrangements.”

Agencies entrusted with protecting workers and the public have been ineffective, significantly reducing fines and failing to address egregious hazards. Such has been the case for decades.