Trending Topics

RI company fined after firefighters hurt in chemical blaze

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined Prosys Finishing Technologies for failing to properly label chemical containers

By FireRescue1 Staff

CRANSTON, R.I. — A company was fined by the U.S. government after dozens of firefighters were hospitalized in a chemical blaze due to several “serious” violations.

Associated Press reported that Prosys Finishing Technologies was fined $6,500 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for incorrectly labeling chemical containers and not keeping a proper inventory of chemicals.

According to the Rhode Island Fire Marshal’s office, the fire was started when a worker was disposing chemicals and pouring them together, causing a reaction.

OSHA found that workers were not trained properly on the chemicals they dealt with and did not know how to properly respond to emergency situations.

A penalty of $10,000 was originally proposed by OSHA, but Prosys signed a settlement and agreed to pay $6,500.

Cranston Fire Chief William McKenna said all but one of the firefighters hurt in the blaze are back at work.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/958136340108980225 https://twitter.com/Kerri7News/status/958145075342708736/photo/1

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU