Danville manufacturer cited by US Labor Departments OSHA for continued employee exposure to highly toxic hexavalent chromium

DANVILLE, Pa. —— Truck trailer manufacturer Great Dane Limited Partnership has been cited for two repeat violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for exposing employees to hexavalent chromium at its Danville facility. OSHA opened its October 2013 investigation under its Hexavalent Chromium National Emphasis Program as a follow-up to a February 2013 investigation. Proposed penalties total $30,000.

"Hexavalent chromium exposure poses serious risk to employees. It is known to cause cancer, as well as problems in the respiratory system, kidneys, liver, skin and eyes," said Mark Stelmack, director of OSHA's Wilkes-Barre Area Office.

Investigators found that the company exposed a welder to more than 4.6 times the permissible exposure limit to hexavalent chromium and failed to implement feasible engineering controls and work practices to reduce employee exposure to the chemical. A repeat citation is issued when a substantially similar violation is found at any of an employer's facilities in federal enforcement states within five years of a previous citation. The company was previously cited for these violations in June 2013.

Information on controlling hazardous fume and gases during welding can be found here.

Great Dane Limited Partnership has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet informally with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety & Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the Wilkes-Barre Area Office at 570-826-6538.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.