OSHA Cites Tenneco

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

Tenneco faces the possibility of more fines from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

OSHA initiated the latest inspection against Tenneco after receiving a complaint alleging improper material handling and machine guarding hazards.

Proposed penalties total $342,250.

Also, Illinois-based Tenneco has now been placed in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program for what the agency says is the company’s “demonstrating indifference to its OSHA Act obligations to provide a safe and healthful workplace for employees.”

A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule, or order at any facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.

In 2010, 2012, and 2013, Tenneco was cited for numerous and repeated safety violations and at one point as sued by a group of employees who claim they became ill after being exposed to the chemical hexavalent chromium.

Also, Elite Logistic Service, Inc., a staffing agency that provided temporary employees to Tenneco at the Hartwell plant, was also cited for one serious safety violation.

That is for alleged failure to remove its employees from exposure to unguarded pallet tippers and carries a potential fine of $6,300.