Chemical Manufacturer Cited for Failing to Reduce Employee Exposures to Hexavalent Chromium

Recently, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it had cited a chemical manufacturer in Georgia for 67 serious violations. The agency has proposed a penalty of over $289K for exposing workers to a series of workplace dangers associated with chemicals and other hazards.

OSHA reports it found a number of violations, including the company’s failure to:

• Provide feasible engineering controls to reduce employee exposures to hexavalent chromium.
• Establish and implement a respiratory protection program and provide a medical evaluation before workers were fit-tested or required to use respirators.

Hexavalent chromium is a toxic form of the element chromium. Hexavalent chromium compounds are widely used in many different industries. Industrial uses include chromate pigments in dyes, paints, inks and plastics; chromates added as anticorrosive agents to paints, primers and other surface coatings; and chromic acid electroplated onto metal parts to provide a decorative or protective coating. Hexavalent chromium can also be formed when performing hot work, such as welding on stainless steel or melting chromium metal.

According to OSHA, occupational exposures to hexavalent chromium may cause:

• Lung cancer in workers who breathe airborne hexavalent chromium
• Irritation or damage to the nose, throat and lungs if it is breathed at high levels
• Irritation or damage to the eyes and skin if the material contacts these organs in high concentrations

“There have been a number of costly penalties for companies over the past several years for exposing workers to hexavalent chromium,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Employee training, air monitoring and personal protective equipment (PPE) are essential for protecting workers and avoiding these fines. Helping companies achieve this are the testing experts at EMSL Analytical, Inc. With laboratories across North America, we provide laboratory services to detect and measure hexavalent chromium. We also offer sampling supplies, fit testing resources, respirators and other PPE.”

EMSL has even sponsored an educational video about hexavalent chromium that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/1G8bq7rM5w8

To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, air quality, environmental, health and safety testing resources, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com .

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOCs, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail