Hand-painted apparel maker Miskeen Originals LLC could be fined $43,150 after being cited by the US Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for violations that include overexposure to methylene chloride.
Officials were tipped off after receiving a complaint from one of the New Jersey based clothing firm’s employees, and an inspection revealed 20 violations. The most serious was failure to keep fire exits unobstructed and unlocked. Other allegations include failure to provide proper equipment, training, monitoring, and engineering related to methylene chloride.
“Employees exposed to methylene chloride are at increased risk of developing cancer; adverse effects on the heart, central nervous system and liver; and skin or eye irritation,” said Paula Dixon-Roderick, director of OSHA’s area office in Marlton, NJ. “These hazards need to be corrected immediately to protect the safety and health of workers at the plant.”
The company now has 15 business days to respond.
