How Serious Was Haverhill Chemicals’ OSHA Violation?

Late last year, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Haverhill Chemicals LLC for the death of a 61-year-old man killed when a drain line ruptured, spraying the man with a mix of hot chemicals, including hydrochloric acid and Bisphenol A, known colloquially as BPA.

OSHA’s inspection found that the company failed to provide for the safety of the employee, noting that the company had not properly repaired misaligned pipes and expansion joints to fully contain the chemical flow. Safety shields were not installed on the machinery before it returned to service.

Additionally, the company had no procedures for an emergency shutdown of the machine in question, nor did the company have any written procedures for equipment maintenance. Workers were not trained to install the flexible expansion joints, inspections were not conducted nor recorded and employees were not provided with crucial protective covering that could have saved the man’s life.

As a result, the company faces $134,000 in fines and a serious violation of OSHA codes.

What Can My Family Members Do Following a Fatal Workplace Accident?

The death of a loved one due to something as preventable as employer negligence can leave a family feeling confused, hurt and angry. Know that you are not alone in your grieving. An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can help your family seek compensation for your loss and push the company at fault to revise its policies so that these kinds of tragedies never happen again.

Larrimer & Larrimer has over 80 years of experience helping people just like you receive the compensation you deserve. Take a look at our Facebook page for more information.

Did You Know? BPA is used to make toys, plastic dinnerware, automobile parts, beverage containers and impact-resistant safety equipment.

Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC—Columbus Workers’ Comp Attorneys

Source: http://www.workerscompensation.com/compnewsnetwork/news/19945-ohio-employee-clearing-reactor-drain-fatally-injured-by-spewing-chemicals.html

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