Lake Compounce Theme Park Employees Exposed to Chemical, Fire Hazards: OSHA

*Editor’s note: this story was first published Jan. 27. Here it is again, in case you missed it.

The Hartford Area Office of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited the Lake Compounce Family Theme Park for what the agency described as “18 serious violations of workplace safety standards.”

The Bristol park was cited by OSHA on Jan. 15, according to an announcement released this week.

OSHA said its investigation found “the company exposed employees spraying coatings on park equipment and working with caustic chemicals in the park’s paint room to chemical, burn and respirator hazards.

The hazards included failing to:

• Monitor workers’ exposure to hexavalent chromium and methylene chloride, both hazardous chemicals
• Train employees about hazardous chemicals
• Complete a hazard assessment for protective equipment needed by workers
• Provide required eye- and hand-washing facilities for employees working with chemicals
• Fit-test and determine employees’ ability to wear respirators and provide them with respirator training
• Ground electrical equipment properly
• Keep spark-producing tools out of a flammable spray booth
• Dispose of flammable waste properly
• Prevent flammable spraying when a ventilation system is inactive

“These conditions exposed Lake Compounce Family Theme Park employees to serious burn, fire, chemical burn, electric shock and eye, face and hand injuries. The employer must act promptly to effectively eliminate these hazards before they injure its employees,” said Warren Simpson, OSHA’s area director in Hartford.

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OHSA is seeking to fine the operators of the 400-plus acre park that was founded in 1846, a total of $70,200 for the violations.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citation and proposed penalty to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, according to OSHA.

Photo credit: Lake Compounce via Facebook.