Fireworks Manufacturer Fined for Safety Violations
As penalty for an explosion earlier this year injuring three, a fireworks producer faces fines for 31 safety violations.
Playing with fire usually ends up with someone getting burned. For Global Pyrotechnic Solutions Inc., a fireworks manufacturer in Dittmer, Mo., this lesson may cost dearly.
After an explosion at the facility injured three employees in March, OSHA has cited the company for 31 safety violations, including 25 alleged serious violations, and proposed $116,900 in fines.
One of the injured workers suffered severe burns and was hospitalized for 20 days. The other two employees were treated for burns and released on the day of the incident. "The serious violations relate to hazards associated with the improper handling of explosives, improper storage of flammable liquids and a lack of ventilation in rooms where the liquids are used," OSHA said in a release posted on its website. It says Global Pyrotechnic Solutions Inc. employs 20 workers and must respond to the citations within 15 day of notification, either with payment or by contesting the fines.
"It is imperative that employers who manufacture, sell, display, or whose employees work around pyrotechnics recognize potential hazards and take steps to prevent injuries such as the ones that occurred in this case," said Charles E. Adkins, OSHA's regional administrator in Kansas City, Mo. "All employers must take the necessary steps to eliminate hazards from the workplace."