MEC&F Expert Engineers : National Manufacturing Co. exposes workers to chemical hazards, workplace safety dangers at Chatham, New Jersey facility

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

National Manufacturing Co. exposes workers to chemical hazards, workplace safety dangers at Chatham, New Jersey facility




 
 
National Manufacturing Co. exposes workers to chemical hazards, workplace safety dangers at Chatham, New Jersey facility
Flash fires at company lead to inspections, $56K in fines for 10 OSHA violations
 
Employer name: National Manufacturing Co. Inc.

Inspection site: 12 River Road, Chatham, New Jersey
            
Citations issued: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations for 10 serious safety violations on July 25, 2016.

Investigation findings: Borough of Chatham officials alerted OSHA after a flash fire burned an employee as the worker cleaned a degreasing tank at National Manufacturing on Jan. 29, 2016. The agency initiated a safety inspection on Feb. 1, 2016. The agency then opened a health inspection on Feb. 18, 2016, to evaluate chemical related health hazards after the safety inspection revealed the company’s use of N-Propyl Bromide, also known as 1-Bromopropane, a chemical used to degrease metals, plastics and electronic and optical components.

Inspectors identified multiple workplace safety violations. They found the company:
  • Exposed employees to hazards related to N-Propyl Bromide.
  • Failed to provide fall protection for workers exposed to falls up to 7 feet.
  • Allowed electrical and housekeeping hazards.
  • Failed to medically evaluate and fit test employees using respirators.
Quote: “National Manufacturing Co. put workers in harm’s way by not properly controlling chemical hazards at its facility in Chatham. We found the company’s lack of effective hazard management relating to its degreasing system directly resulted in flash fires on Jan. 29 and Feb. 9, 2016, just 11 days apart,” said Kris Hoffman, director of OSHA’s Parsippany Area Office. “This company must do what’s right to protect its workers and provide a safe and healthy workplace.”

Proposed penalties: $56,300

The citations can be viewed at:
The employer has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.  

To ask questions; obtain compliance assistance; file a complaint; or report amputations, eye loss, workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency’s Parsippany Area Office at 973-263-1003.
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 ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.
OSHA News Brief: 
08/17/2016
 
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National Manufacturing Co.
 

Specialists in Deep Drawn Enclosures &
Shallow Drawn Metal Components

As specialists in deep draw technologies, National Manufacturing Co., Inc. has been producing precision deep drawn enclosures and shallow drawn metal components for over 70 years. The company is known for its tightest tolerance deep draw, and its ability to work with complex shapes, sharp corners, exotic and difficult-to-draw materials. National serves a broad spectrum of industries worldwide, including the aerospace, battery, defense, electronics, fuel cell, industrial, medical, telecommunications, commercial and consumer markets.

As an ISO 9001, AS9100 and ISO 13485 certified company, National practices six sigma and lean principles, and participates in kanban, dock-to-stock, and vendor managed inventory programs with its customer base. National’s engineering team collaborates during your design phase to ensure a robust and economical design, and utilizes National’s library of tools to reduce upfront costs and lead times. In-house tooling design, in conjunction with concurrent engineering, ensures precision tolerances, unsurpassed quality, short lead times and low costs. Value-added services include assembly, machining, welding, and various surface treatments and coatings.

Engineering and Tool Design


  • Collaboration with your design team to ensure a cost effective, robust enclosure
  • Concurrent engineering for short lead times and low cost
  • Internal tooling design and fabrication to ensure precision tolerances, reliable quality, and short lead times
  • Utilizes National’s library of tools to minimize start-up costs.
  • Multi-shift tool room with “lights-out” capability
  • Auto-CAD, PRO/ENGINEER and SolidWorks
  • Part drawings accepted in virtually all electronic formats