A plastic container manufacturing plant in Bryan, Texas was inspected by OSHA and fined for what the inspectors found. BWay Corp. was cited for 16 serious violations, including accumulations of combustible plastic dust and electrical hazards. This combination of violations creates an extreme explosion hazard, since plastic dust is highly combustible. The inspection came after OSHA received complaints of unsafe working conditions.
The company was also given citations for not providing personal protective equipment for employees working with corrosive chemicals, locking out circuits for machines that were being serviced to make sure they don’t start up unexpectedly, and failures to protect workers from being exposed to electrical shock hazards.
The total amount of the fines came to $84,000, and the company has 15 business days to comply or contest the citations before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. OSHA’s Austin area director explained the importance of fixing what this inspection found: “Failing to maintain electrical equipment, provide personal protective equipment for corrosive chemicals, and control accumulations of combustible dust are serious safety and health hazards with severe consequences for exposed employees. Fortunately this inspection has addressed the issues and prevented some potentially severe injuries.”
To prevent an explosion combustible dust cleaning must be done carefully with equipment designed for combustible dust collection. Hughes Environmental technicians are trained in the remediation of these explosion risks and use equipment approved for combustible dust cleaning. Contact us now to find out how we can help you avoid a fire and OSHA fines in your facility.
Employees worried about their safety or who notice possible violations being committed are able to anonymously contact OSHA to file a complaint or request an inspection by calling 800-321-OSHA (6742) or visiting https://www.osha.gov/as/opa/worker/complain.html
