Adhesive company fined $917,000 after explosion injures workers

OSHA fined Bostik Inc. $917,000 for violating safety standards that led to a March 13explosion at the company's Middleton, Mass., plant in which four workers were injured. Bostik was cited for 50 violations of workplace safety and health standards, including nine willful violations for serious deficiencies in the company's process safety management (PSM) program--a detailed set of requirements and procedures employers must follow to proactively address hazards associated with processes and equipment that involve large amounts of hazardous chemicals.

OSHA issued Bostik nine citations for willfully committing violations with disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health. These violations included failing to address previous incidents with a potential for catastrophic results, as well as human factors such as operator error, communication between shift changes and employee fatigue from excessive overtime. The agency also issued 41 citations for serious violations that the company knew or should have known had a substantial probability of resulting in serious physical harm or death to its workers. These violations included an incomplete and deficient emergency response plan, inadequate training for employees required to fight fires, obstructed exit access, electrical and respirator hazards, and additional PSM deficiencies.

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