Contractor Cited for Alleged Willful/Serious Violations

Following an inspection, OSHA has proposed $115,000 in penalties against a contractor for two alleged willful and one alleged serious violations of OSHA standards. Three employees contracted from a temporary help company were injured after they were instructed to clean the inside of a tank that contained concrete slurry. Two of the workers were admitted to hospital with second-degree chemical burns. The company was cited for willful failure to identify and correct any possible hazards before instructing employees to enter a confined space; along with willful failure to instruct employees on the hazards associated with confined spaces and failure to train employees on the use of protective and emergency equipment. A serious citation was also issued, alleging that the company failed to require employees to wear protective equipment, including eye and face protection, while working with a hazardous material.