OSHA finds Newark manufacturer put employees at-risk in its handling of dangerous chemicals

Employer name: Elan Chemical Company Inc., 268 Doremus Ave., Newark, New Jersey

Citations issued: On Feb. 4, 2016, The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations for 17 serious safety and health violations.

Investigation findings: OSHA initiated an inspection on Aug. 4, 2015, under its national emphasis program focused on chemical manufacturers. Inspectors found deficiencies in the employer’s equipment process safety information, process hazard analysis, written operating procedures, contractor safety, equipment inspection and tesging along with management of process changes, resulting in the citations.

Proposed penalties: $72,100

Quote: “The violations identified in this inspection create a hazardous environment for the plant’s workers,” said Kris Hoffman, director of OSHA’s Parsippany Area Office. “This facility uses more than 10,000 pounds of ethyl chloride, a highly-flammable liquefied gas. The company’s failure to comply with OSHA’s Process Safety Management standard could result in a chemical release, as well as a serious fire or explosion.” 

View the citations:  http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/ElanChemical1082421.pdf

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions; obtain compliance assistance; file a complaint; or report amputations, eye loss, 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.