'Serious' Violations Found At South Bergen Facility: OSHA

CARLSTADT, NJ — Federal penalties have been levied against a manufacturing company for 11 violations at a manufacturing facility in south Bergen County.

Sinclair & Rush Inc., at 640 Dell Road, faces $127,539 in penalty fines, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

OSHA issued 10 serious citations and one less-than-serious citation to the company.

Sinclair & Rush failed to properly protect workers from overexposure to a potentially cancer-causing solvent called methylene chloride, and did not properly support workers who were exposed or potentially exposed to the solvent.

According to OSHA, workers can breathe solvent vapors in or potentially have them on skin or clothing. Short-term exposure to MC can cause "cause dizziness, headaches, a lack of coordination, and irritation of the skin, eyes, mucous membranes, and respiratory system."

Long-term exposure to MC has caused cancer in lab animals, according to OSHA. For those with heart disease, exposure can make symptoms worse.

The agency "considers MC to be a potential occupational carcinogen."

The company has manufacturing locations in Missouri, New Jersey, and several countries overseas. Its headquarters are in Arnold, MO.

Patch has reached out to Sinclair & Rush for comment.