OSHA proposes more than $1.2 million penalty to St. Louis area chemical repackaging and distribution

[Omaha Steve]

http://hr.cch.com/news/safety/032709a.asp

03/27/09

OSHA has cited St. Louis, Mo.-based G.S. Robins & Co., doing business as Ro-Corp Inc., for alleged willful, repeat and serious violations of federal workplace safety standards, proposing more than $1.2 million in penalties for numerous violations relating to the handling of hazardous chemicals at the company's facility in East St. Louis.

OSHA began an inspection at the East St. Louis site after learning that employees had been admitted to several local hospitals following contamination with an unknown powder. The eight hospitalized individuals, OSHA later learned, were exposed to the chemical para-nitroaniline (PNA). PNA is a poison that causes methemoglobinemia, a condition that reduces the blood's ability to transport oxygen. The employees had been performing a chemical transfer operation at the East St. Louis worksite when chemical dust was released, settling on work surfaces and on the employees.

"There are means available to safely handle deadly chemicals such as this, and those means were ignored," said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Donald G. Shalhoub. "Those who ignore safe practices and OSHA regulations are inviting tragedy into the lives of their employees and their families, and this cannot be tolerated."

PNA is highly toxic and can be fatal if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. All the employees exposed showed ill effects from their exposure, however, they recovered after receiving medical treatment.

As a result of its investigation, OSHA issued 21 willful citations, 20 of which were cited on a per-instance basis, relating to eight instances of failing to provide employees with the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) for transferring PNA; four instances of failing to provide training on the use of PPE and on working with hazardous chemicals; three instances of failing to provide PPE training and training on specific PNA-transfer procedures; and five instances of failing to fit-test employees using respirators.

FULL story at link.

[KT2000]

1. It's about time

They should have riders to the fines that says they have to pay for treatment and monitoring of affected workers for life.
Unfortunatley the company will gain the upper hand in any court proceding against workers denied medical care.