Workplace Safety Violations: Company Faces $338K Penalty

A metal refinisher in Houston was cited by OSHA for 44 workplace safety violations for exposing workers to dozens of serious safety hazards.

In December 2023, federal investigators opened an investigation at Outdoor Furniture Refinishing Inc., operating as Allied Powder Coating, and identified 39 serious violations and five other-than-serious violations.

Specifically, the investigation determined the company failed to use required engineering controls and respiratory protection to prevent health hazards related to triglycidyl isocyanurate, arsenic, cadmium beryllium and lead exposures.

The hazards have the potential to cause serious health concerns, including birth defects, respiratory disorders, cardiovascular disease and cancers, according to an OSHA press release.

“Outdoor Furniture Refinishing Inc. has a legal responsibility to ensure its employees have a safe work environment and must do better at understanding the hazards that exist in the work they do,” explained Houston’s OSHA Area Director Larissa Ipsen. “Employers are required to know all dangers present in their workplace and develop procedures, provide safety equipment and train employees to ensure workers are protected from immediate and long-term hazards.” 

OSHA Issues Six-Figure Penalty

The company faces $338,094 in penalties. It was cited for 39 serious violations, including a failure to:

• Protect employees in powder-coating operations from inhalation hazards.
• Have engineering controls for noise, an effective hearing conservation program and equip employees with hearing protection.
• Protect workers by maintaining a spray booth.
• Ensure that respirators were provided and used properly.
• Have changing rooms and showers specifically for employees overexposed to arsenic, beryllium and lead, and provide required training and medical surveillance. or air monitoring for overexposure to these substances.
• Maintain electrical equipment as required.
• Protect employees against harmful dust overexposure.
• Ensure arsenic, beryllium and lead were safely blown off of clothing.
• Establish regulated areas for arsenic and beryllium.
• Develop and implement a hazard communication program.

The company was also cited for five other-than-serious violations, including failing to:

• Evaluate and certify forklift operators
• Ensure that fire extinguishers were readily accessible
• Develop and implement a noise monitoring program.

Investigation Continues

A concurrent investigation into alleged health hazards continues.

Left unchecked, the exposure to unsafe levels of the chemicals found during this inspection has numerous health hazards, according to OSHA. For example:

• triglycidyl isocyanurate can cause birth defects
• total dust may lead to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease
• arsenic is a known carcinogenic that can also cause skin lesions
• lead can cause permanent cognitive impairment, and
• beryllium can scar lung tissue permanently.

Info: DOL investigation finds Houston metal powder coating company exposed workers to dozens of serious safety hazards, 7/1/24.