OSHA Enforcement: Atlanta, Georgia Chemical Manufacturer Proposed Penalty Assessment

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) issued a March 8 news release and link to a Citation and Notice of Penalty for Southern Industrial Chemicals Inc.

South Industrial Chemicals Inc. is stated to be operating as SIC Technologies (“SIC”).

SIC is described as an Atlanta, Georgia chemical manufacturer. It is stated to compound custom chemical products.

OSHA states that it cited SIC after conducting a safety and health inspection for the following alleged violations:

• Provide feasible engineering controls to reduce employee exposures to hexavalent chromium.
• Establish and implement a respiratory protection program and provide a medical evaluation before workers were fit-tested or required to use respirators.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive hazard communication program for the handling and use of hazardous chemicals.
• Provide laboratory employees with information and training on hazardous chemicals in the lab.
• Provide changing rooms for contaminated protective clothing to prevent cross-contamination of employees’ regular clothes.
• Provide suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body.
• Use drums and containers that meet appropriate federal regulations for the waste they contained.
• Ensure chemical drums and pallets were stacked on storage racks in a secure manner.
• Provide proper training and certification of employees using powered industrial trucks.
• Develop and implement an energy control program, including written lockout procedures, and training for employees required to perform cleaning and maintenance involving dangerous machinery.
• Develop and implement a permit-required, confined space program for employees required to enter tanks and vessels.
• Guard unused portions of a bandsaw to prevent unintended contact with the saw blade.

SIC has fifteen days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request and informal conference with OSHA, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

A copy of the news release can be downloaded here.