The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited an Atlanta chemical manufacturer with 67 serious violations and a proposed penalty of $289,439 for exposing workers to a series of workplace dangers associated with chemicals and struck-by hazards.
OSHA found violations for failing to:
- Provide feasible engineering controls to reduce employee exposures to hexavalent chromium.
- Establish and implement a respiratory protection program and provide a medical evaluation before workers were fit-tested or required to use respirators.
- Develop and implement a comprehensive hazard communication program for the handling and use of hazardous chemicals.
- Provide laboratory employees with information and training on hazardous chemicals in the lab.
- Provide changing rooms for contaminated protective clothing to prevent cross-contamination of employees’ regular clothes.
- Provide suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body.
- Use drums and containers that meet appropriate federal regulations for the waste they contained.
- Ensure chemical drums and pallets were stacked on storage racks in a secure manner.
- Provide proper training and certification of employees using powered industrial trucks.
- Develop and implement an energy control program, including written lockout procedures, and training for employees required to perform cleaning and maintenance involving dangerous machinery.
- Develop and implement a permit-required, confined space program for employees required to enter tanks and vessels.
- Guard unused portions of a bandsaw to prevent unintended contact with the saw blade.
Workers in the U.S. suffer more than 190,000 illnesses and approximately 50,000 deaths annually related to chemical exposures. OSHA's website provides an overview of chemical hazards and toxic substances to provide employers and employees with tips to recognize hazards and control exposures.
