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U.S. Department of Labor | |
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| Occupational Safety & Health Administration | ||||||
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OSHA News Release
2003 - 11/25/2003 - Rhode Island Manufacturer's Failure to Safeguard Workers against Hazardous Chemical Leads to Nearly $50,000 in OSHA Fines |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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Region 1 03-714-BOS /BOS 2003-311 Tuesday, November 25, 2003 Contact: Ted Fitzgerald Phone: (617) 565-2074 Rhode Island Manufacturer's Failure to Safeguard Workers against Hazardous Chemical Leads to Nearly $50,000 in OSHA Fines PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A Lincoln, R.I., office furniture manufacturer's failure to provide adequate safeguards for employees working with the chemical methylene chloride (MC) has resulted in $49,200 in fines from the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Packaging Concepts, Ltd., of 15 Wellington Rd., was cited for alleged repeat and serious violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and for failing to correct a hazard cited in an earlier OSHA inspection. Some workers at the plant are exposed to MC, a potential occupational carcinogen, during spraying and laminating operations. "OSHA standards require an employer to take effective steps to reduce workers' exposure levels and to implement other safeguards - including respiratory protection, regulated work areas, washing facilities, exposure monitoring and medical surveillance - when exposure levels remain high," said Kipp W. Hartmann, OSHA's Rhode Island area director. "Our inspection found that the company had not implemented all of these required protections." OSHA has proposed a $30,000 fine for the company's ongoing failure to provide medical surveillance for workers whose duties involved exposure to MC. OSHA first cited the company for this hazard in May 2002. Packaging Concepts agreed to correct that violation, but a followup inspection begun last month found that this had not been done. Four serious citations, carrying $11,200 in proposed fines, were issued for employee overexposure to MC, not implementing controls to reduce exposure levels, not having a respiratory protection program and failing to supply workers with the proper respirators; failure to conduct periodic exposure monitoring; failure to establish a regulated work area; electrical safety hazards; and an uncovered container of flammable liquid. A serious violation is one in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result, and the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard. Two repeat citations, with $8,000 in fines, were issued for not providing washing facilities for employees working with MC; and not providing workers with training and information on MC and other hazardous chemicals used in the workplace. OSHA issues a repeat citation when an employer has previously been cited for a substantially similar violation and that citation has become final. The company had been cited for similar hazards in May 2002. Packaging Concepts, Ltd., has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to either elect to comply with them, to request and participate in an informal conference with the OSHA area director, or to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The inspection was conducted by the OSHA's Providence, R.I. area office. The telephone number is (401) 528-4669. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is dedicated to saving lives, preventing injuries and illnesses, and protecting America's workers. Safety and health add value to business, the workplace and life. For more information, visit www.osha.gov. ###
The information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (617) 565-2072. TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) Message Referral Phone: 800-347-8029. |
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OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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