Bentley Laboratories exposed temporary workers to chemical, noise and machine hazards

Employer name and location: Bentley Laboratories LLC, which manufactures products for the beauty and pharmaceutical industries, is located in the Raritan Center at 111 Fieldcrest Avenue in Edison, New Jersey. Joulé Clinical & Scientific Staffing Solutions, a division of System One, provides staffing services to Bentley Laboratories and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

As many as 50 temporary workers were on site during peak season at Bentley's manufacturing facility in Edison.

Date investigation initiated: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated an inspection on Oct. 16, 2014, in response to a complaint.

Investigation findings: Bentley Laboratories was cited for 14 serious violations including failure to:

• train workers on chemical hazards,
• maintain a hearing conservation program for employees exposed to excessive noise,
• develop procedures and training to control potentially hazardous energy, and
• properly guard machines to prevent amputations.

Joulé was cited for three serious violations involving the lack of a hazardous communication program, and training related to hazardous chemicals and energy-control procedures.

A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

"We see these kinds of violations frequently, especially in the case of temporary workers," said Patricia Jones, director of OSHA's Avenel Area Office. "Both the hiring company and the staffing agency are legally responsible for the safety and health of their workers."

For more information on protecting temporary workers, visit https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3735.pdf

The companies have 15 business days from receipt of citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Proposed penalties: $45,000 for Bentley Laboratories LLC, and $8,000 for Joulé Clinical & Scientific Staffing Solutions, a division of System One.

View the citations:

• http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/BentleyLaboratoriesLLC1001216_0219_15.pdf
• http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/JouleStaffingSolutionsaSystemOneDivision_1012458_0219_15.pdf