Workers' Compensation: Electronics recycler over-exposes workers to lead, fined more than $56K

Monday, December 14, 2015

Electronics recycler over-exposes workers to lead, fined more than $56K

The company fails to monitor exposure require personal protective equipment

Employer name: Echo Environmental Waverly LLC, Waverly, Ohio

Citations received: Dec. 8, 2015

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Cincinnati Area Office cited the electronic recycling company for six serious and three other-than-serious health violations.

OSHA initiated the inspection in June 2015 after receiving a complaint alleging workers were exposed to lead hazards at the Waverly, Ohio, facility.

The agency found the company:

Exposed workers to lead above the permissible exposure limit.
Failed to monitor exposure levels.
Did not require the use of protective clothing or provide laundry and disposal containers for contaminated clothing.
Allowed food and beverages to be consumed in areas where lead was likely present.
Failed to properly label containers with material containing lead.

Quote: “Occupational exposure to lead can cause long-term health effects,” said Ken Montgomery, OSHA’s area director in Cincinnati. “The company must make immediate changes to its procedures to ensure workers are not exposed to lead or carrying it home with them from their shift.”

The company recycles cable boxes and extracts and sells metals. The Waverly facility is a subsidiary of Elemetal LLC of Dallas.

Proposed Penalties: $56,850.