Depot Reviews Safety Policies After Fatality

Home Depot is reviewing company safety procedures in the window and door departments at all its stores following the death of a 6-year-old boy at its Phan. Tx.. home center.

Ivan SanMiguel was with his father and stepbrother May 2 when he was struck by large patio doors that fell from a pallet overhead. He was pronounced dead on arrival at a nearby hospital.

Police are investigating the accident to determine if any criminal charges should be filed. "Home Depot has a lot of explaining to do about that child's death," said Homer Vasquez of the County District Attorney's Office. "We want to see if anyone was criminally negligent."

An unidentified manager told the local newspaper that on the night of the accident, a worker had moved the pallet from a shelf to the floor, then removed the packaging that held the doors upright to get a door for a customer. According to the source, the employee allegedly left the pallet unattended without securing the remaining doors, which later fell on the boy.

The manager claimed Home Depot promptly issued a new policy requiring removal of all doors and windows from pallets if the packaging is removed and posting of instructions on all four sides of affected packages.

LP May Move Oregon HQ

Louisiana-Pacific Corp., Portland, Or., is in the early stages of considering moving its headquarters out of state as it reorganizes administrative offices to cut costs. LP's top executive said last month.

An executive group led by LP's chairman and c.e.o., Mark A. Suwyn, is studying how to reorganize the company's six administrative and sales offices, including its Portland headquarters.

A conclusion to the study is not expected until late July, Suwyn said at the company's recent shareholders meeting.

He also added that the company wants to reduce corporate travel expenses and bring together employees whose work demands face-to-face interaction. The plans would involve closing some offices to consolidate operations.

"Too much of my people's time is spent in airports and away from their families," Suwyn said.

LP has 7,900 employees companywide, including 190 in the Portland area, mostly at the headquarters.

AFPA Adopts Treated Council

American Forest & Paper Association is taking over the Treated Wood Council to continue the legislative and regulatory functions of the American Wood Preservers Institute.

AF&PA will manage the TWC as a separate organization. During a May l4 meeting in Washington, D.C., wood preservative manufacturers, treaters and lumber producers approved a new set of by-laws for the organization and a budget for the remainder of 2003 and 2004. A search also is underway for an executive director, assistant and, if needed, a communications firm.

The TWC will initially focus on state and federal regulatory issues, communication with members and media response, covering all aspects of treated wood.

Southern Pine Council will fund $200,000 in 2003 as the wood producers' portion ofthe total budget.