Washington State Cabinet Maker Fined $107,000
Inspectors also found workers had to enter a dust-collection silo referred to as a "bag house" to perform routine maintenance without the required confined space safety precautions being in place, so 13 of the serious violations involved confined space hazards.
Viking Cabinets Inc., of Spanaway, Wash., has been fined $107,000 for exposing workers to fire hazards from flammable liquids, chemical exposure, and other workplace health risks at its cabinet manufacturing shop, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries announced. The agency has cited the company for 29 serious health violations with penalties ranging from $4,200 to $1,600 each.
According to L&I, eight of the serious violations were related to unsafe use and storage of flammable liquids, vapors, and spray after inspectors found large quantities of flammable liquids were kept in the work area instead of being safely stored away. Ventilation wasn't adequate for removing flammable vapors and mists from the air to prevent fire, and combustible wood dust had accumulated on the electrical system and other surfaces in the shop, the agency reported.
Other violations cited were related to exposure to corrosive or toxic chemicals, such as not ensuring that all emergency eyewash stations were functional and accessible in the event of a chemical splash to the eyes and failure to address chemical hazards and train employees who work with toxic or corrosive chemicals. Finally, inspectors also found workers had to enter a dust-collection silo referred to as a "bag house" to perform routine maintenance without the required confined space safety precautions being in place, so 13 of the serious violations involved confined space hazards.
The company has 15 days to appeal the citation.