EPA has fined Del Monte Fresh Produce Co. of Kunia, Oahu, $190,000 for hazardous waste storage, handling, and used oil management violations. The agency said that in August 2007 its inspectors found open and unlabeled containers of hazardous waste at the facility and evidence of a release of used oil. Additionally, the inspectors found the facility had stored containers of hazardous waste without a permit and stored hazardous waste for longer than the 90 days allowed by the EPA's hazardous waste storage rules, the agency said. At the time of the inspection, the company had ceased its pineapple growing operations.

• According to EPA, the facility also failed to:
• Have a response plan for hazardous waste and used oil spills and have an emergency response coordinator;
• Properly manage other wastes, such as lead acid batteries;
• Keep adequate hazardous waste training records for its staff;
• Properly store used oil and label the containers; and
• Respond to releases of used oil, and comply with oil pollution control requirements.
  

"Companies must properly store and handle hazardous waste to protect the community, workers, and the environment," said Jeff Scott, director of Waste Programs for the EPA's Pacific Southwest region. "I am pleased that Del Monte has corrected the violations and that the facility no longer presents a potential risk to human health and the environment."
EPA's hazardous waste rules require facilities to properly store, label, and seal hazardous waste containers. Facilities must also have trained staff, as improperly stored hazardous waste can potentially spill and pose a risk to workers and the environment. Proper disposal of hazardous waste is required at a permitted disposal site, with the required permits and notifications made to EPA. For information on hazardous waste, visit www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/hazwaste.htm.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Arctic Glacier Inc. of Fairport, N.Y., for 20 alleged serious violations of OSHA health and safety standards. The ice manufacturer faces $90,000 in proposed fines for incomplete or inadequate safeguards for its refrigeration system and other hazards at its 900 Turk Hill Road plant.

The bulk of the citations cover deficiencies in the plant’s process safety management (PSM) program. OSHA’s PSM standard mandates a detailed set of requirements and procedures employers must follow to proactively assess and address hazards associated with processes involving the use of more than 10,000 pounds of a hazardous chemical, in this case ammonia, in the plant’s refrigeration system.

“Process safety management demands constant, effective attention and commitment because the consequences of a leak or other incident can be severe and catastrophic,” said Arthur Dube, OSHA’s area director in Buffalo. “While it’s fortunate no accident occurred, safeguarding employees against death or serious injury cannot and must never be left to chance.”

OSHA’s inspection found: that all plant employees had not been informed about the plant’s PSM plan and updates to its emergency response plan; incomplete process hazard analyses and follow through; no means of verifying employees’ PSM training; infrequent and incomplete inspections and testing of process equipment; lack of proper procedures to manage process changes; incomplete responses to process compliance audits; and a lack of oversight and information to contract employees working in process areas.

OSHA also identified hazards associated with fork trucks, including untrained employees and the loading of a 6,950-pound fork truck onto an elevator with a weight capacity of only 4,000 pounds; inadequate or unmarked emergency exit routes; unguarded open-sided floors; an unguarded wrapping machine; and use of an electric heater in a battery charging area.

A serious citation is issued when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The inspection was conducted by OSHA’s Buffalo Area Office; telephone 716-551-3053.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A North Collins, N.Y., manufacturer of consumer cleaning products faces a total of $272,900 in proposed fines from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for a variety of alleged health and safety hazards following a Sept. 7, 2006, hydrochloric acid spill. Crescent Marketing Inc., doing business as Crescent Manufacturing, was cited for a total of 39 alleged violations of health and safety standards and for failing to correct a hazard cited in a previous OSHA inspection.

"Our inspections found serious deficiencies in the company's emergency response program, including an incomplete emergency response plan, untrained responders, lack of respirator procedures and absence of medical consultations for employees who showed signs of possible exposure to hazardous substances," said Art Dube, OSHA's area director in Buffalo. "In addition, we identified a range of other hazards at the plant including conditions that had been cited in earlier OSHA inspections."

The company was issued three willful citations, carrying $148,500 in proposed fines, for failing to provide medical evaluations, fit-testing and training to employees on respirator use. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Seven repeat citations, with $40,400 in proposed fines, were issued for lack of hand protection, eyewash facilities and hazard communication training for employees working with hazardous substances; lack of hazardous energy control procedures and training; and electrical hazards. OSHA cited Crescent Manufacturing for similar hazards in 2004 and 2006.

Forty-one serious violations, with $58,000 in proposed fines, were issued for the emergency response deficiencies as well as for hazards involving blocked aisles, obstructed exit access, unsecured materials and equipment, powered industrial trucks, machine guarding, compressed gas storage and additional electrical hazards. A serious citation is issued when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The company was fined an additional $24,000 for failing to correct a specific hazard cited in a previous OSHA inspection. Although it had agreed, following a 2006 OSHA inspection, to provide quick drenching shower facilities in the facility's "clean room," these were not provided.

One other than serious citation, with a $2,000 proposed fine, was issued for incomplete recording of work-related injuries and illnesses.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to request and participate in an informal conference with OSHA's area director in Buffalo or to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The investigation was conducted by OSHA's Buffalo Area Office, telephone (716) 551-3053.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

KINGSTON, ON, Oct. 3 /CNW/ - The City of Kingston pleaded guilty and was fined $60,000 in the Ontario Court of Justice on October 2, 2008, after construction workers were exposed to asbestos during renovation of the city's
public utilities building.

Justice of the Peace Lorraine Watson heard that, in May 2007, the city hired David J. Cupido Construction Ltd. to complete renovations on the building at 1211 John Counter Blvd. The city informed this contractor that in 2003 there had been some asbestos testing in the building. The tests showed negative results. However, not all surfaces had been tested, and nothing had been tested since.

When renovations began, a worker noticed asbestos-like material, but it was not tested until three weeks later. On June 13, 2007, tests revealed chrysotile asbestos in the building and the project was shut down. Three of 24 air samples tested showed asbestos contamination. Workers had been on the job for three weeks and their personal protective equipment would not have met safety requirements for asbestos, the court heard. By failing to determine the presence of asbestos in the building and/or to advise prospective constructors before requesting tenders for a project in the building, the City of Kingston violated section 10 of Ontario Regulation 278 and section 30 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. In addition, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as
required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.