OSHA has cited a chemical facility with 14 safety violations, including chemical hazards found at the company’s facility. OSHA’s September 2012 inspection was initiated as part of the agency’s National Emphasis Program on process safety management for covered chemical facilities. The inspection resulted in $64,665 in proposed penalties. The serious violations, with a $63,000 penalty, include:
- failing to protect workers from chemical hazards associated with working on a formaldehyde loading system
- protect against fall hazards
- complete and revalidate a process hazard analysis and resolve analysis recommendations in a timely manner
- develop a lockout/tagout program or line breaking procedures for the formaldehyde loading system
- provide training on usage and maintenance of the formaldehyde loading system
- conduct inspections and testing of the formaldehyde loading system
- ensure an approved forklift for a hazardous area, and
- ensure the use of approved wiring
The other-than-serious violations, carrying a $1,665 penalty, include an electrical cord strung across a highly traveled road that make it exposed to vehicles running over it and a failure to decontaminate formaldehyde-exposed equipment.
CLICK HERE for the press release.