Manufacturer Faces $56K Fine for 10 Serious OSHA Violations

In a recent press release, OSHA announced a $56,300 fine for a New Jersey manufacturing facility that allegedly exposed workers to hazardous chemicals and other workplace hazards.

After an employee suffered burns in a flash fire while cleaning a degreasing tank, OSHA inspected the Chatham, New Jersey facility and found 10 serious violations of safety standards. OSHA states that the employee was permitted to clean the tank before hazardous vapors, which can accumulate in pockets in the tank, could be properly ventilated and cleared. A light bulb broke while the employee was cleaning, igniting the vapors and burning the employee.

Questions about different types of OSHA violations? We break down the different kinds of OSHA safety citations here.

In addition to the fire/chemical vapor hazards called out in the OSHA enforcement order, other “serious” OSHA violations uncovered during the inspection included:

• Exposing employees to slip and fall hazards caused by oil on the floor. [29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2)]
• Failure to protect workers from fall hazards with guard railings (or equivalent measures) and toeboards. [29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1)]
• Allowing employees to store lunch bags and personal items in a degreaser room where a hazardous chemical is used to finish parts. [29 CFR 1910.141(g)(4)]
• Failure to provide eye wash stations and a decontamination shower readily available for employee use in areas where workers handle corrosive chemicals. [29 CFR 1910.151(c)]
• Exposing employees to electrical hazards caused by machines not guarded against accidental contact [29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i)] and a recirculation fan missing a ground pin in its plug. [29 CFR 1910.304(b)(3)(ii)(C)(3)]

The wide variety of OSHA violations uncovered during this inspection is an important reminder of how detailed the 29 CFR General Industry Standards can be. It’s also a reminder that a single instance of noncompliance or a single workplace incident can lead to an OSHA inspection that may uncover all sorts of different violations. For tips on how to weather your site’s next OSHA inspection, check out Preparing for and Dealing with OSHA Inspections.

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Protecting workers is the number one priority of safety professionals everywhere. A major part of keeping employees safe is providing effective training that drives home the importance of the OSHA safety rules and helps workers identify the hazards they face. Online OSHA training at Lion.com is designed to inform and engage workers to make sure they have the critical information they need to protect themselves and their co-workers from injuries and illness.

Now that OSHA fines have gone up nearly 80%, an effective safety program—and employees know their individual safety responsibilities—are more valuable than ever. 
 

Browse OSHA Online Courses here.

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