The U.S. Department of Labor cited beauty and personal care products manufacturer SV Labs after a 55-gallon fiber drum containing nitrocellulose exploded and started a secondary fire involving flammable liquids at a facility in Prescott, Wisconsin.
OSHA investigators determined that California-based SV Labs did not have a thorough new hire safety and health program in place and failed to provide newly hired employees with chemical and respiratory protection training, respirator fit testing and medical evaluations.
The agency cited the company for two repeat violations related to respiratory protection and hazard communication and 10 serious violations related to flammable liquids, fire extinguisher training and inspections, forklift training and inspections, electrical hazards and hazard communications.
SV Labs also received six other-than-serious citations for recordkeeping violations, lack of powered industrial truck training and unsafe material handling. The agency proposed penalties of $275,694.
The company contested the citations before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
