Hexavalent Chromium Exposures Cited
OSHA has proposed $72,800 in fines against Cleveland Tank & Supply Inc., with 19 serious health and safety violations cited.
OSHA announced an enforcement case involving hexavalent chromium exposures to employees at Cleveland Tank & Supply Inc. The agency said 19 serious health and safety violations, including failing to assess and monitor exposure to HexChrome and provide adequate PPE, were assessed after an April inspection based on a complaint, with $72,800 in proposed fines.
"Cleveland Tank & Supply has a responsibility to ensure that workers are properly protected from known workplace hazards such as exposure to chromium," said Howard Eberts, OSHA's area director in Cleveland. "OSHA is committed to protecting workers, especially when employers fail to do so."
Fifteen of the health violations involve failing to assess workers' exposure to hexavalent chromium and ensure exposures were below the permissible limit. Others involve failing to implement a hearing conservation program, provide an emergency eyewash station, inspect and also train employees to use fire extinguishers, and provide HazCom training. Four safety violations involve failing to develop machine-specific lockout/tagout procedures, evaluate powered industrial truck operators' performance every three years, ensure machine guarding was provided, and ensure point-of-operation guarding was in place on machinery.