Solvents used to clean parts and machinery can make workers sick through skin contact and inhalation. This company didn’t go far enough to minimize methylene chloride risks.
What happened: Sinclair & Rush in Carlstadt, New Jersey, manufactures product protection for plastic components and plastic packaging. It routinely uses methylene chloride, a toxic chemical, as a solvent. An OSHA inspection revealed shortcomings in the company’s safety plan.
Result: OSHA cited the company for not providing PPE, eye wash stations, medical surveillance, and engineering controls and work practices that reduce employee chemical exposure. Sinclair & Rush was fined $127,539.
