Dangerous Conditions Lead to Hefty OSHA Fines
Iowa’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued $154,524 in OSHA fines to a wind blade manufacturer. A 40-page report from OSHA cited issues such as airborne contaminants, fire hazards, inconsistent record keeping, and a lack of PPE training.
Those citations are consistent with the claims of dozens of former employees, who said that the company did not protect them from dangerous chemicals that caused severe skin injuries. Six former employees are now suing the company.
(Related Article: OSHA, ISEA Form Alliance for PPE Innovations)
An outside investigation found that hundreds of workers have suffered skin injuries due to exposure to epoxy resin, a chemical used in the fabrication of wind blades. The company issued full-body suits, however, they did not provide adequate protection from the hazardous chemical.
The resin was able to soak through suits and come into contact with skin and clothing. It was noted in the investigation that some employees resorted to using duct tape on their suits to prevent exposure.
The effects of exposure to epoxy resin include dermatitis and chemical sensitization. TPI was aware of the chemical reactions occurring on worker’s skin and promoted an in-house “3-step” treatment. This included issuing hydrocortisone cream, Calmoseptine ointment and white petroleum jelly that was then covered with a bandage.
Over Two Dozen Citations Issued
In total, TPI was issued 25 different citations ranging up to $8,017 in OSHA fines per violation. This list includes: Exposing employees to dust explosion hazards, unsafe airborne chemicals, fiberglass dust, and failure to select proper PPE, among a litany of other health and safety issues.
In a statement issued by the company, the senior vice president stated that, “while we expect to dispute some of OSHA’s initial findings, we will continue to work closely with OSHA to resolve any differences in a manner to ensure the continued safety of our employees.”
(Related Article: OSHA Silica Violations Over Past Eight Months)
In related news, OSHA recently launched a new database of workplace chemical information that lists information about hazardous chemicals including physical properties, permissible exposure limits, sampling information and additional resources.
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