OSHA Fines NJ Cleaning Products Maker $83K for Hazards

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued Santec Inc., a Linden, NJ manufacturer of cleaning products, for 11 serious and one-other than serious health and safety violations on Nov. 4, the agency announced Wednesday. $83,375 in penalties are proposed.

OSHA initiated an investigation of the facility on May 5, 2016 after its Avenel, NJ area office received information that hazardous chemicals produced at the site were being improperly labeled.

An agency investigation revealed that the company:
- Failed to properly label hazardous chemicals.
- Lacked forklift training and maintenance.
- Exposed employees to electrical hazards.
- Lacked guardrails on an open-sided platform six feet above ground level.
- Failed to implement a lock out/tag out system to prevent inadvertent machine start-up and provide employee training.
- Did not develop and implement a respiratory protection program, including medical evaluation and employee training for employees required to use respirators.
- Failed to address exposure to confined space.

“Santec is leaving its employees vulnerable to hazards that can cause serious injury, health issues, and possible death,” said the director of OSHA’s Avenel, NJ area office, Patricia Jones, in a statement. “Employers are legally responsible for providing workers with a safe and healthful workplace. Santec must address each of the identified violations; anything less is unacceptable.”

The agency also cited Santec for one other-than-serious violation after the company was found improperly storing compressed gas cylinders that held chemicals like acetylene and improperly labeling shipped chemicals.

The company has 15 business days to comply with OSHA’s penalty after the citations were issued, request a meeting with an OSHA area director or contest the citations before an independent panel.

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