Thermometer manufacturer fined $200K for overexposing employees to mercury

Kessler Thermometer Corp. has been cited by OSHA for overexposing employees to mercury. According to inspectors, the airborne elemental mercury exceeded the “8-hour, time-weighted average based on biological exposure indices.” Because the company exposed their workers to this hazard, employees became severely sick. OSHA has fined Kessler Thermometer $195,988 for over 20 violations.

In a recent quote, OSHA Area Director Kevin Sullivan said, “Kessler Thermometer Corp. knowingly endangered the lives and health of their employees by ignoring basic safeguards to control hazardous mercury in the workplace and failed to acknowledge its employees were being sickened by mercury exposure. This company has been operating for about 20 years and knows the dangers their workers face.”