The U.S. Department of Labor recently uncovered violations related to inadequate protection against respiratory and fire hazards caused by resin accumulations at the Durez Corporation facility in Kenton, Ohio.
Durez, a subsidiary of Sumitomo Bakelite North American Inc., has been cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for failing to follow safety measures to protect workers from chemical exposure and potential explosions, according to a May 18 news release.
“Durez Corp. knowingly failed to develop and implement safeguards to protect employees from toxic gas releases, explosions from process equipment and use good housekeeping procedures to protect its employees from potential combustible resin fires,” Toledo OSHA Area Director Todd Jensen said in the release.
OSHA found violations during an investigation prompted by a complaint, including inadequate protection against respiratory and fire hazards caused by resin accumulations, the release reported. Flammable vapors can ignite in certain conditions, which can lead to powerful explosions. This can result in serious injuries or fatalities for workers.
The agency issued a willful violation for the failure to maintain a safe HVAC system with provisions to retain a positive pressure in the control room with an automatic shut off in the case of a formaldehyde release, according to the release. Additionally, Durez received a serious citation for lacking an effective housekeeping program.
OSHA proposed penalties totaling $171,884, the release said. This is not the first time Durez has faced safety violations, as similar infractions were identified during a previous inspection in 2019.
Sumitomo Bakelite North American, known for producing resins and other materials for various industries, has 15 days to comply with the citations and penalties, request an informal conference with OSHA or contest the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, according to the release. OSHA stressed the importance of prioritizing safety over profits to prevent harm to employees.
