A Brooklyn manufacturer reached a settlement with OSHA earlier this month to improve safety and health in the workplace following severe violations. The company was cited last April after an OSHA inspection revealed high levels of lead throughout the facility. The on-site inspector also found that employees lacked proper hazard communication and hearing conservation programs.

The manufacturer was initially fined $105 thousand, but will now only have to pay $40 thousand in addition to the abatement measures. One of those measures includes the hiring of a lead hazards and abatement consultant to analyze the facility for areas of improvement. Regional Solicitor for the New York Regional Solicitor’s Office Jeffrey Rogoff explained why the fine-abatement combination will help limit employee lead exposure in the future.

“The fines and abatement measures packaged together will raise awareness among employers working with leaded brass about the potential serious health effects of occupational lead exposure,” Rogoff said. “This result highlights the need for comprehensive risk assessment and implementation of policies, procedures, and equipment to reduce such exposure.”

According to OSHA, the company failed to:

Train employees about lead hazards and provide them proper protective clothing;
Prevent lead from accumulating on surfaces in the plant;
Prohibit employees from consuming food and drink in lead-contaminated areas; and,
Conduct initial monitoring to determine employees’ lead exposure levels.

Elevated levels of lead in the blood is a serious sign that workers are not being properly protected against the hazardous chemicals. Lead can damage vital organs, as well as the nervous system and digestive system. Inhaling or ingesting lead can cause hypertension, cancer, and birth defects. It may also lead to various cardiovascular, kidney, and neurological diseases.

Chemical hazards threaten the health and well-being of workers across the United States, and OSHA does not take that lightly. Implementing a medical surveillance program is simple, and can save you from citations and shutdowns.

Worksite Medical will bring its mobile units directly to your job site, and perform heavy metal lab screenings.

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For more information, or to schedule, contact us at 1-844-622-8633, or by email at info@WorksiteMed.com.