OSHA Cites Quest Specialty Coatings Following Fires
The Menomonee Falls, Wis.-based company faces proposed fines of $132,800.
OSHA has cited Question Specialty Coatings for one willful, two repeat, and five serious safety violations following an inspection that found eight safety violations, many of which were cited under the Process Safety Management standards.
"Quest Specialty Coatings has a responsibility to ensure the safe operation of its plant by making sure employees are trained in the hazards of manufacturing paints," said Chris Zortman, OSHA's area director in Milwaukee, in a news release. "Workers should not be put at risk because this company failed to implement required protections."
OSHA issued one willful violation for failing to conduct necessary inspections and tests on emergency fire control, bypass, and relief valves to ensure they were mechanically sound and not dangerous to operators. The company also failed to follow recommended inspection timetables for pumps and motors.
The company failed to address the potential for static accumulation and discharge and train employees in the equipment processes and emergency shutdown procedures for the machines they were operating. The company did not ensure that procedures to maintain mechanical integrity were performed, such as inspecting valves and pipes. This led to five serious violations.