OSHA Fines Gulf Chemical for Industrial Safety Violations

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined Freeport- based Gulf Chemical and Metallurgy Company $50,400 in fines after inspections revealed numerous industrial safety violations.

According to OSHA, it conducted inspections of the facility in October, and found 16 serious violations. These violations are those that can contribute to injury or death. The violations included failure to train workers to handle hazardous materials, failure to provide adequate protection from airborne hazards and failure to protect workers from electrical hazards.

Gulf Chemical has 15 working days to comply with the fines. The company insists that it has provided a safe workplace for its workers, and that employee safety is a top priority. The company will contest the OSHA fines.

Work in a chemical plant can place workers at a high risk for developing occupational diseases if they are not provided adequate safeguards. Facemasks, goggles and filters must be used to ensure that workers are not exposed to deadly toxins and airborne chemicals. If inhaled regularly over a period of time, these toxins could cause respiratory and other illnesses. Electrical hazards can be found in any industry environment, but that doesn't mean that employers neglect to provide training for workers to handle risks, provide safe and well functioning power tools, and make sure that loose or exposed wiring is taken care of immediately.

The state of Texas and the Houston area in particular, serve as home to some of the largest industries in the country. This is the home of the country's oil refinery network, as well as the base for numerous other plants and refineries. It's also where Houston industrial accident lawyers can find some of the most serious safety violations.