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West Virginia Chemical Plant Cited For Safety Violations
By: Associated Press
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – A Northern Panhandle chemical plant where chlorine gas spilled from a leaking tank car has been cited for alleged workplace safety violations.
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration issued $25,500 in fines against Axiall Corp.’s Eagle Natrium LLC subsidiary. The Aug. 27 spill occurred at the company’s New Martinsville plant.
The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports Westlake Chemical Corp. bought the plant in September and that the citations were issued last month.
OSHA says three citations involved rules for safely managing hazardous chemicals. A fourth was for communicating such hazards to employees.
A preliminary report issued in October by the National Transportation Safety Board described a crack on one end of the tank car that leaked.
A Westlake spokesman didn’t immediately return an email seeking comment on the citations.