Last month, a New York company was fined by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) over $100,000 for exposing workers to cancer-causing chemicals and other hazards. In total, the firm was cited for 17 serious violations.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. The firm in question was inspected by federal workplace safety and health inspectors following a complaint to OSHA. The investigators found that the employer:
• Exposed employees to cadmium, lead, nickel, and silica beyond permissible exposure limits (PELs).
• Failed to provide changing and shower areas to employees who worked with cadmium and lead, significantly increasing the likelihood of contamination outside the immediate work area.
• Failed to provide employees exposed to lead and cadmium with required medical surveillance.
• Allowed chromium, copper fume, iron oxide, and silica exposure among employees in sandblasting and welding operations to exceed PELs.
• Did not train painters to properly use or store respirators.

Inspectors also reportedly found the company failed to ensure workers cleaned or removed lead-contaminated protective equipment before entering eating areas. Poor housekeeping caused contamination from silica residues and left dining tables contaminated with lead. OSHA also cited the company for violations related to noise, respiratory combustible materials, operating machinery, welding, electrical and blood borne pathogen hazards.

“Occupational health and safety conditions that endanger workers and result in costly fines occur all too frequently, but companies with access to industrial hygiene professionals can readily prevent violations and hazardous workplace exposures from happening to them,” said Michael Berrevoets, President, VOETS, LLC. “At VOETS we offer our industrial hygiene services and comprehensive regulatory compliance and safety training to employees and management in companies across New York and the tri-state area. These testing, training, and monitoring services help to keep companies in compliance with OSHA and state regulations and are instrumental for protecting the health and safety of workers.”