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Austin Powder Co. in McArthur, Ohio has been cited for 51 health and safety violations, which could cost them up to $258,000 in fines. Austin Powder’s McArthur facility produces commercial explosives and was cited for the 51 violations by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for failing to follow OSHA’s standards for process safety management at facilities that use highly hazardous chemicals.
All of the violations were discovered over the course of two OSHA inspections of Austin Powder. The first inspection was initiated as a part of OSHA’s Site Specific Targeting Plan. The Site Specific Targeting Plan is designed to target companies that have a history of recording a higher than average incident and illness rate. The second inspection was initiated as a part of a program for covered chemical facilities known as the National Emphasis Program.
Of Austin Powder’s 51 violations, 47 were serious violations. A serious violation is any violation where there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. Of the 47 serious violations, 23 were related to process safety management, including:
Failing to have operating procedures to address consequences of deviation from operating limits
Failing to correct deficiencies found in compliance audits
The other 24 serious violations involved:
Not developing energy control procedures for the maintenance and servicing of equipment
Inadequate labeling of hazardous chemical containers
Lack of machine guarding and fall protection
Failure to follow electrical safety standards
“By disregarding OSHA’s common-sense standards, this employer endangered the facility’s workers,” Deborah Zubaty, OSHA’s area director in Columbus told the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Public Affairs. “OSHA is committed to protecting workers on the job, especially those exposed to hazardous materials, and educating employers about safety and health regulations.”
Our firm has been standing up for the victims of negligent employers for over eight decades. Whether you are dealing with something as simple as carpal tunnel syndrome or as complex as a workplace fatality, our Columbus workers comp lawyers are ready, willing and able to help you. We have the knowledge, skills and resources to guide you through the legal process of holding those at fault accountable and recovering the compensation you and your loved ones need to move on to the next chapter in your lives.
For more information about workers’ comp and Social Security disability benefits and how we can help you if you have been injured on the job, contact our firm today at (614) 221-7548 to schedule a free consultation.
Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC—Columbus Workers Comp Attorneys