Search

Manufacturer Faces $56K Fine for 10 Serious OSHA Violations

Posted on 9/6/2016 by Roger Marks

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.

OSHA safety inspection

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.

OSHA Safety Training at Lion.com

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.

Tags: and, fines, osha, penalties, workplace safety

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

The instructor's energy, enthusiasm, and knowledge of the subject make the class a great learning experience!

Brian Martinez

Warehouse Operator

I have been to other training companies, but Lion’s material is much better and easier to understand.

Mark Abell

Regional Manager

The course is well thought out and organized in a way that leads to a clearer understanding of the total training.

David Baily

Hazmat Shipping Professional

I think LION does an excellent job of any training they do. Materials provided are very useful to my day-to-day work activities.

Pamela Embody

EHS Specialist

Lion was very extensive. There was a lot of things that were covered that were actually pertaining to what I do and work with. Great Job. I will be coming back in three years!

Tony Petrik

Hazmat Shipping Professional

This course went above my expectations from the moment I walked in the door. The instructor led us through two days packed with useful compliance information.

Rachel Stewart

Environmental Manager

This is the best RCRA training I've experienced! I will be visiting Lion training again.

Cynthia L. Logsdon

Principal Environmental Engineer

Our instructor was very dynamic and kept everyone's interest. Hazmat shipping can be a dry, complicated topic but I was engaged the entire time.

Kimberly Arnao

Senior Director of EH&S

The instructor was very engaging and helped less experienced people understand the concepts.

Steve Gall

Safety Leader

These are the best commercial course references I have seen (10+ years). Great job!

Ed Grzybowski

EHS & Facility Engineer

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

In most cases, injuries that occur at work are work-related and must be recorded to maintain compliance with OSHA regulations. This report shows you the 9 types of injuries you don’t record.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.