A Jan. 23 explosion at Worthen Industries Inc.'s Nashua, NH, manufacturing plant has resulted in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposing $257,500 in fines against Worthen and S.L. Chass Welding & Fabrication.

The Worthen plant makes a variety of products, including adhesives for vinyl membrane pressing of cabinet doors.
 
According to OSHA, the explosion occurred when flammable vapors ignited while workers of Hudson, NH-based S.L. Chasse were installing a new motor on a vessel used in the plant's manufacturing process. OSHA found that Worthen had not cleaned the vessel thoroughly enough to ensure the absence of flammable materials or vapors, and had not vented it prior to allowing welding to be performed. As a result, OSHA issued Worthen one willful citation with a proposed fine of $63,000.
 
OSHA identified numerous other hazards at the plant including an incomplete and inadequate process safety management program, fall hazards from an unguarded mezzanine and floor openings, accumulations of ice on exit stairs and not conducting initial monitoring for employee exposure to formaldehyde and methylene chloride. These and other violations resulted in 48 serious and five other-than-serious citations for Worthen with $162,400 in additional fines, bringing Worthen's fines total to $225,400.

S.L. Chasse was cited for inadequately training its workers to recognize potential chemical, fire, explosion or toxic release hazards and appropriate protective work practices, and allowing welding to be performed where a flammable atmosphere was present. The company was cigted for eight serious and six other-than-serious citations, with $32,100 in fines.
 
Read OSHA's press release.