Workers exposed to fire and explosion hazards at perfume factory in Cedar Grove, New Jersey

Contract Filling Inc. faces $50K in OSHA fines for 8 serious violations

Employer name: Contract Filling Inc., a contract manufacturer of fragrances and cosmetics.

Inspection site: 10 Cliffside Drive, Cedar Grove, New Jersey 07009

Date citations issued and what prompted inspection: On July 22, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued eight serious safety citations. OSHA initiated a Process Safety Management, or PSM, inspection after determining that the company was using flammable liquids above the threshold quantities that could present a potential for a catastrophic event.

Investigation findings: Contract Filling Inc. was cited for not implementing five elements of the PSM standard, including process hazard analysis, operating procedures and training; and not preventing the sudden startup or movement of equipment during service and maintenance, a procedure known as lockout/tagout.

Proposed Penalties: $50,400

Quote: "The numerous safety hazards found at Contract Filling's facility exposed employees to the dangers of potentially fatal fires, which is unacceptable," said Kris Hoffman, OSHA's area director in Parsippany. "This company must strengthen and improve its chemical safeguards to prevent a life-threatening incident."

View the citations: https://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/ContractFillingInc_1021723_0722_15.pdf

To ask questions; obtain compliance assistance; file a complaint or report amputations, losses of an eye, 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 agency's Parsippany Area Office at 973-263-1003.