Bostik Inc. has paid $600,000 in OSHA fines stemming from a March 2011 explosion at its plant in Middleton, Mass., according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
OSHA originally proposed $917,000 in fines for Bostik's violations of the agency's process safety management (PSM) standard, a detailed set of requirements employers must follow to proactively address hazards associated with large amounts of hazardous chemicals. According to The Salem News, OSHA cited Bostik for 50 PSM violations, and Bostik has already paid the fine, which goes to the U.S. Treasury's general fund instead of OSHA or the Department of Labor.
The explosion occurred when a valve was left open, causing the release of flammable acetone vapors. This occurred during a PSM-covered process known as direct solvation, according to the Labor Department. Today, Bostik no longer uses the direct solvation process at its plant in Middleton, and the company continues to take other corrective actions to address deficiencies in its PSM program.
"This resolution speeds corrective action that might otherwise have been delayed through lengthy litigation," said Michael Felsen, the Labor Department's regional solicitor in Boston.
"Just as important, the settlement commits Bostik to strengthening its PSM program to prevent the possibility of a similar incident in the future, and to apprise us of its progress in abating the hazards," said Jeffrey A. Erskine, OSHA's area director for northeastern Massachusetts.
A message left for Bostik requesting comment on Monday was not returned immediately.
