A company in Spanaway has been fined $107,000 for exposing workers to fire hazards from flammable liquids, chemical exposure and other workplace health risks at its cabinet manufacturing shop. The state Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) cited Viking Cabinets Inc. for what the agency called 29 serious health violations, with penalties ranging from $4,200 to $1,600 each. The company is appealing the findings. A decision by an administrative reviewer on the appeal is expected by approximately mid-May, said Tim Church, a spokesman for L&I. Viking can also appeal the officer's ruling. Since an inspection by L&I that resulted in the reported workplace health violations, Viking has taken steps to remedy many of them, according to L&I. Eight of the violations were related to unsafe use and storage of flammable liquids, vapors and spray, L&I reported. Officials for the agency said an inspection revealed that large quantities of flammable liquids were kept in the work area where they could contribute to a fire, instead of being safely stored. In addition, ventilation wasn't adequate for removing flammable vapors and mists from the air to prevent fire, and combustible wood dust accumulated on an electrical system and other surfaces, creating a fire hazard, officials claimed. Other violations cited by L&I were related to exposure to corrosive or toxic chemicals, such as not ensuring that all emergency eye-washing stations were functional and accessible in the event of a chemical splash to the eyes, and failure to address chemical hazards and train employees who work with toxic or corrosive chemicals. According to L&I, its inspection also found workers were required to enter a large dust-collection silo, called a "bag house," to perform routine maintenance without the required confined-space safety precautions being in place. L&I said 13 of the violations it found for confined-space hazards. Working inside a confined space without the proper safety precautions can be deadly to workers and would-be rescuers. Confined space hazards can include suffocation, toxic atmospheres, engulfment, entrapments, moving parts and other dangerous conditions, L&I officials said. They said employers must control access to the space and use a permit system to prevent unauthorized entry. Anyone working in or around a confined space must be trained and there must be safety measure and rescue procedures in place. In addition to the "serious violations," Viking Cabinets was cited for five general violations that weren't assessed a fine, L&I officials said. Any penalty money that is paid in connection with L&I-issued citations is placed in the state's workers' compensation supplemental pension fund, helping workers and families of those who have died on the job.
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