OSHA cites Orange Lanxess plant for Ike cleanup violations (while working with hazardous chemicals)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/local/osha_cites_orange_lanxess_plant_for_ike_cleanup_violations_04-14-2009.html

By AMY MOORE
April, 14, 2009

A global company with local roots is being fined $3,375 for "serious" violations made while crews cleared Hurricane Ike damage.

During the 2008 storm, the Lanxess Corporation plant on FM 1006 in Orange was flooded with swamp water. Contracting crews were later brought in to clean up the plant and the four and a half feet of sludge left by storm surge.

According to information from the Occupational Safety and Health

Administration (OSHA), Lanxess did not have employees use personal protective equipment while working with hazardous chemicals - which included butadiene, ethylene, propylene, hexanes and asbestos - during the clean up, exposing them to contact and respiratory hazards.

Bruce Young said he worked for two weeks at the Lanxess plant as an equipment operator before going home with massive back pain, rashes on his ankles and lesions on his face and arms.

Young, an Oklahoma City, Okla. resident, said while he and many of the other contract laborers worked in jeans and T-shirts, other employees were wearing respiratory suits and breathing through oxygen tanks.

FULL story at link.