U.S. Proposes $32,100 in Fines Against Union Carbide in Leak

The federal government today proposed $32,100 in fines against Union Carbide Corp. for willfully neglecting safety procedures in an Aug. 11 leak at its pesticide plant in Institute, W.Va., that hospitalized more than 100 people.

The leak occurred because managers of the plant failed to realize that a mixture of two chemicals had been left in a tank that was inadvertently heated, causing it to rupture, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ruled.

OSHA said the leak stemmed from the uncontrolled decomposition of aldicarb oxime, a substance used to produce the pesticide Temik. Six Union Carbide employees were hospitalized, along with about 135 residents living near the plant.

The agency said the company committed three willful violations of safety laws and proposed penalties of $10,000 for each count.

The willful violations included exposing employees to the danger of the ruptured pressurized tank, failing to implement engineering controls to prevent air contamination and neglecting to store sufficient emergency respiratory protective equipment where it was easily accessible.

The agency also proposed penalties ranging from $600 to $800 for each of three other serious violations.

The company said it will contest the violations.