Connecticut aircraft engine repair station employees exposed to hexavalent chromium, fire hazards

Employer name:  Budney Overhaul & Repair, Ltd. Inc., specializing in the repair and overhaul of a wide variety of aviation engine and airframe components.

Inspection site:  131 New Park Drive, Berlin, Connecticut.

Investigation findings:  Responding to a complaint, OSHA inspectors found several hazards associated with the use and presence of the carcinogen hexavalent chromium in the workplace. These included:

• Employee overexposure to hexavalent chromium, failure to monitor exposure levels and lack of controls to reduce exposure levels.
• Failure to train employees and provide them information on hexavalent chromium hazards and safeguards.
• Failure to assess and provide personal protective equipment for exposed employees.
• Not requiring employees to remove contaminated clothing at the end of the work shift.
• Allowing employees to enter eating and drinking areas while wearing contaminated clothing.

The inspection also identified fire and burn hazards due to improper storage and disposal of flammable materials and failure to remove ignition sources from areas where flammable vapors were present.

Citations: On Feb. 19, 2016, OSHA cited the company for twelve serious violations of workplace safety standards.

Proposed penalties: $46,287

Quote:  “Employees faced unknowing and needless exposure to an occupational carcinogen as well as potential burns and fires. For the health and well-being of its employees, Budney Overhaul and Repair must take effective and comprehensive corrective action to eliminate these hazards and prevent them from occurring again,” said Warren Simpson, OSHA’s area director in Hartford.

Link (to citations/findings document): Here.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet 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 Hartford office at 860-240-3152