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N.J. Manufacturer Charges For 14 Serious Safety And Health Violations

N.J. Manufacturer Charges For 14 Serious Safety And Health Violations
The Church & Dwight Company Inc. faces citations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 14 serious violations that involves employee exposure to chemical hazards at its plant in North Brunswick, N.J. Proposed penalties total $55,125.

Patricia Jones, director of OSHA's Avenel Area Office said "The identified violations could potentially place workers at risk and could result in injury or possible death," she also further "One way employers can prevent potential hazards is by establishing an effective comprehensive workplace safety and health program that engages employees to proactively evaluate, identify and eliminate hazards."

OSHA started an investigation on November 18, 2009, as part of its Site-Specific Targeting Inspection Program for industries with great injury and illness rates. And as a result to the investigation, OSHA inspectors have cited the company for its failure to comply with a process safety management standard containing requirements for the management of hazards which is associated with processes using highly hazardous chemicals. This failure is failing to perform an initial process hazard analysis on certain processes, and not performing tests and inspection on process equipment to maintain its mechanical integrity. OSHA issues a serious charges when there is great probability that death or serious physical harm could take place and the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard.

The company has been provided with15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with the OSHA area director, or can contest the citations and the proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

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