USA – Six Injured Power Station Explosion
Six injured in Ohio power station explosion
Six people were injured on January 10 in an explosion at a power station near Aberdeen, Ohio, upriver from Cincinnati. The explosion took place at the J.M. Stuart Generating Station, a four-unit, coal-fired power plant owned and operated by Dayton Power and Light. The victims’ injuries are not considered life-threatening, the company said in a statement.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration office in Cincinnati sent a crew to the plant, ewhich mploys more than 300. The blast reportedly occurred in Unit 1 of the power station.
According to local reports, OSHA has found several violations at the facility since 2009, resulting in thousands of dollars in fines, according to government records and a Labor Department spokeswoman.
In January 2009, OSHA investigated eight health issues involving a faulty alarm system and mis-labelled chemicals, among other things. The agency settled with the company for a $6,250 fine.
Also in January 2009, OSHA looked into safety issues involving employees working in confined spaces. It resulted in six safety violations and a $17,500 fine.
In November 2015, there was an investigation involving workers’ respiratory protection. OSHA cited the plant for two instances and $1,500 in fines.
There is also an ongoing case that started in March last year. Rhonda Burke, a Labor Department spokeswoman, said OSHA found three health violations and levied a $37,413 fine. The company is contesting the findings, Burke said.