Want to see an OSHA inspector at your facility? Ignore chemical hazards as these two companies did.
OSHA has cited Advanced Strobe Products of Harwood Heights, IL, with 16 health and safety violations with fines totaling $50,785.
Inspectors headed to Advanced’s facility after receiving a complaint about a worker who received emergency medical care for a leg burn due to an acid spill.
OSHA says the company failed to provide and ensure the use of proper personal protective equipment (PPE) for the worker. Besides acid, Advanced workers were also exposed to lead and cadmium.
All but one of the violations were categorized as serious, including citations for failure to:
- ensure use of personal protective equipment, such as impervious aprons, boots and eye and face protection to prevent exposure to acid and other hazardous materials
- provide an emergency eyewash station in the acid room
- develop a respiratory protection program
- ensure the use of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health-certified respirators for the hazards present, and
- provide medical evaluations and fit-testing for workers required to use respirators.
Advanced also faces an other-than-serious violation for failing to record the acid spill injury on the OSHA injury and illness log.
Complaint brings OSHA to another workplace
In another situation involving hazardous chemicals, OSHA inspected Carson Helicoptors, Inc., in Perkasie, PA, after receiving a complaint.
OSHA issued eight serious violations to Carson with fines totaling $40,500. Among the violations: exposing workers to hexavalent chromium above the permissible exposure limit (PEL).
Other serious violations included:
- lack of monitoring and medical programs for workers exposed to hexavalent chromium
- failure to provide training on hexavalent chromium exposure
- failure to keep eating and drinking areas free of hexavalent chromium
- no air flow measuring devices of fire extinguisher systems present
- failure to ensure the use of proper respiratory protection for workers while painting
- failure to provide storage areas separating street clothes from contaminated clothing, and
- lack of engineering controls to reduce exposures.
In both cases, the companies have 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA or contest the citations before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.