Chlorine Downs Restaurant Workers in W.Va., Workers Overexposed to Lead in Ohio Plant

Nine workers were sickened recently after being exposed to chlorine gas, which resulted from the inadvertent mixture of certain chemicals in a restaurant in South Charleston, W.Va. The workers had to be taken to hospital for treatment.

Although OSHA training qualifications such as OSHACampus.com 10 training and OSHA 30 training now required for employment in many places, a lot of workers are still exposed to unnecessary worksite hazards because of employer negligence, ignorance, or simple disregard of basic safety protocols. The federal government’s worksite-safety watchdog Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited IHOP Restaurants for five alleged serious safety and health violations with proposed penalties totaling $25,000.

The OSHA investigation revealed that the restaurant failed to carry out the so-called personal-protective-equipment hazard assessment, failed to develop and implement a hazard-communication program, and failed to provide mandated training, eye protection, eye-wash facilities, and material safety data sheets for chemicals used in the restaurant.

"Because chemicals have the ability to react when exposed to other chemicals or certain physical conditions, it is vital that employers take the appropriate steps to protect workers from all related hazards," stressed Prentice Cline, director of the OSHA Charleston Area office.

OSHA has revised its Hazard Communication Standard to accord with the United Nations' global chemical labeling system and to prevent dangerous incidents, such as the one in South Charleston. Once in place, it is expected that the new standard will prevent an estimated 43 deaths and result in some $475.2 million in enhanced productivity for U.S. businesses annually. Meanwhile, OSHA has found Johnson Controls Battery Group Inc. to have committed 11 health violations, including one willful and two repeat infractions, after its inspection of the company’s battery plant in Holland, Ohio. OSHA has proposed a total penalty of $188,600.

"Johnson Controls Battery Group has a responsibility to protect the health of its employees by assuring they operate in a manner to eliminate or minimize lead hazards and other hazardous substances used in the work environment," emphasized Denise Keller, assistant area director of the OSHA Toledo Area office. "Employers who are cited for repeat violations demonstrate a lack of commitment to employee safety and health."

Following a complaint, OSHA inspectors verified that workers were overexposed to lead, a toxic metal known to cause neurological damage and to elevate cancer risk if ingested in sufficient amounts, at the company's Holland plant. OSHA determined that the absence of engineering controls and poor housekeeping practices lead to the overexposure.  The investigation found that workers instead of being required to vacuum lead particles were allowed to sweep them with brooms and brushes, a method that increased lead exposure. The infraction constituted a willful violation.

The other violations included lack of adequate personal protective equipment, improperly worn respirators, lead-contaminated work boots stored in locker rooms, and failure to ensure that workers washed their hands before meals to rid them of contaminants.