Region 3 News Release: 09-370-PHI (osha 09-033)

April 13, 2009
Contact: Leni Fortson
Phone: 215-861-5102

U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA fines Petrolia, Pa., chemical company more than $121,000 for safety and health violations
Citations follow October 2008 chemical release

PETROLIA, Pa. -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Indspec Chemical Corp. for alleged safety and health violations and proposed $121,500 in penalties.

OSHA initiated its investigation on Oct. 11, 2008, after being notified of a chemical release at the company's facility that resulted in the evacuation of residents living within a three-mile radius. As a result, the agency issued citations for 27 serious violations.

The serious violations address hazards associated with process safety management, hazardous waste operations and emergency response, including the company's failure to identify all of the causal factors of the incident during the investigation, failure to secure employee input on process safety management operating procedures, failure to provide employees with proper respiratory protection, inadequate process hazard analyses, inaccurate and ambiguous operating procedures, inadequate training and a deficient emergency response plan.

The Petrolia company manufactures industrial organic chemicals and employs about 260 workers.

"OSHA's process safety management regulations are designed to prevent the kind of chemical release that occurred at Indspec," says Frank Librich, acting director of OSHA's Pittsburgh Area Office. "It is vital that the company immediately take the necessary steps to correct these hazards to prevent any future accidents."

OSHA issues a serious citation when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with the OSHA area director in Pittsburgh, Pa., or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The investigation was conducted by OSHA's Pittsburgh Area Office; telephone: 412-395-4903.

OSHA operates a vigorous enforcement program, conducting almost 39,000 inspections and finding nearly 88,000 violations of its standards and regulations in fiscal year 2008. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to promote the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

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