OSHA takes workplace safety and the health of your employees seriously.
As such, when you break the rules, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when you’re facing heavy financial penalties.
Now, a New Jersey product protection and packaging company faces more than $127K in OSHA fines, resulting from ten serious and one other-than-serious safety and health citations during an OSHA inspection.
The issue? Exposing employees to dangerous methylene chloride.
On Jan. 19th, OSHA issued these citations, with proposed penalties totaling $127,539.
In addition to overexposing employees to the hazardous solvent, the employer also failed to provide personal protective equipment, such as eyewash stations, and medical surveillance for workers exposed or potentially exposed to methylene chloride hazards.
The company also failed to implement engineering controls and work practices to reduce employee exposure.
The Hazards of Methylene Chloride
Methylene chloride is a colorless liquid used in many industries. When handled improperly, it can harm the eyes, skin, liver, and heart.
Signs of exposure include drowsiness, dizziness, numb or tingling limbs, and nausea. Severe exposure can lead to cancer, loss of consciousness, and even death.
The level of exposure depends on the dose, duration, and the type of work being done.
Methylene chloride is often found in industries such as manufacturing, paint removing, and degreasing and cleaning.
In this instance, the company involved manufactures and sells product protection for plastic components, packaging, and other products, using the chemical in various stages of their processes.
And, according to OSHA, their disregard for their employees’ safety simply won’t be tolerated.
“Allowing employees to be exposed to methylene chloride improperly puts them at an increased risk of certain cancers, damage to the heart, liver, and central nervous system, and skin or eye irritation. Employers must ensure critical safety and health precautions are in place to protect workers using or potentially exposed to this highly hazardous solvent from injury or illness,” said OSHA Area Director Lisa Levy in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey.
“OSHA recommends employers use alternative, less hazardous chemicals or methods to prevent worker exposure to methylene chloride.”
The Importance of Medical Surveillance
Medical surveillance is an essential method of regularly testing employees to ensure health and safety.
It can also detect symptoms and signs of exposure before workers face serious health effects.
Worksite Medical offers convenient mobile medical testing to aid in that detection, with minimal disruption to your workflow. With mobile medical units that can come directly to your worksite for lab work, heavy metal testing, respirator fit testing, and more—you can stay productive and compliant.
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About Worksite Medical
In most cases, OSHA requires medical surveillance testing, and at no cost to employees.
Worksite Medical makes that program easier with mobile medical testing.
We conduct on-site respirator fit tests, as well as audiometric exams, pulmonary function tests and heavy metal lab work, right on your job site. We also keep accurate, easy-to-access medical records for your convenience. You’ll keep your employees at work, and stay ahead of OSHA inspections.
With Worksite Medical, a mobile medical testing unit — we can bring all the resources of a lab to you. Our certified lab technicians can perform both qualitative and quantitative respirator tests to ensure a perfect fit.
Protect your team and your workplace now with Worksite Medical. Not sure what you need? Try our medical testing wizard here.
Give us a call at 1-844-622-8633, or complete the form below to schedule an on-site visit or to get your free quote!
