OSHA Issues $272,900 Fine for Hydrochloric Acid Spill
Crescent Marketing Inc., a North Collins, N.Y., manufacturer of consumer cleaning products doing business as Crescent Manufacturing, faces $272,900 in proposed fines from OSHA in connection with a Sept. 7, 2006, hydrochloric acid spill. The citation listed 39 alleged violations, including for allegedly failing to correct a hazard cited in a previous OSHA inspection.
"Our inspections found serious deficiencies in the company's emergency response program, including an incomplete emergency response plan, untrained responders, lack of respirator procedures and absence of medical consultations for employees who showed signs of possible exposure to hazardous substances," said Art Dube, OSHA's area director in Buffalo, N.Y. "In addition, we identified a range of other hazards at the plant including conditions that had been cited in earlier OSHA inspections."
Three alleged willful violations concern failing to provide medical evaluations and also fit testing and training to employees on respirator use, OSHA said. Seven repeat citations concerned alleged lack of hand protection, eyewash facilities and hazard communication training for employees working with hazardous substances; lack of hazardous energy control procedures and training; and electrical hazards, for which OSHA had cited Crescent Manufacturing in 2004 and 2006. The company has 15 working days to contest the case.