Nearly five years of proceedings between AB Specialty Silicones and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), arising from a 2019 explosion that killed four workers at the company’s Waukegan plant, is over.
AB Specialty Silicones and OSHA reached an agreement on Oct. 1 in Chicago requiring the company to pay $1.3 million in penalties over three years, and take remedial steps to ensure the factors leading to the accident cannot happen again, according to an OSHA news release.
A crew was working in the Waukegan plant on May 3, 2019, when a chemical explosion blew apart the building, killing four workers and injuring three others. The blast was heard for miles around, according to reports at the time.
Scott Allen, an OSHA spokesman, said any time there is an accident involving a death or deaths, the agency automatically begins an investigation. A citation was issued in less than six months.
“When there is a fatality or another serious situation, OSHA always opens an investigation,” he said.
After OSHA issued a citation with a $1.6 million fine — in part because the explosion was preventable — Allen said AB Specialty Silicones contested it, putting the matter before an administrative law judge with the Occupational Safety and Review Commission.
Bill Donavon, OSHA’s regional administrator, said in the release after the settlement was reached that the accident was preventable. Along with the payment, the company is required to take a number of remedial steps.
“OSHA will continue to hold AB Specialty Silicones accountable for improving their safety culture by working with industry experts, management and employees to develop and continually test safety measures, emergency response procedures and training,” Donavon said.
For now, AB will temporarily stop production and use of silicon-hydride emulsions until a process for safe production is designed by an engineering firm, according to the release. It will also develop a safety and health management system, and hold evacuation drills.
Training will be developed by management on handling flammable products, and employees will be trained in the appropriate language for them to thoroughly understand, according to the release. Trucks must be properly rated to handle flammable products. Continual safety audits will be conducted.
Should future facilities be built, third-party consultants must be involved in the construction to analyze electrical classification and potential hazards, the release said.
AB Specialty Silicones will pay the $1.3 million fine in 12-quarterly installments through Sept. 1, 2027, according to the release.
Attempts to reach representatives of the company were unsuccessful.
