Chemical manufacturer pays $1.3M penalty after plant explosion kills 4 workers
OSHA has reached a settlement with AB Specialty Silicones LLC over the explosion and fire at its plant in Waukegan, Illinois, which caused the death of four workers. An OSHA investigation concluded that the company, which manufactures chemical products, failed to ensure electrical equipment complied with OSHA standards. Additionally, AB Specialty Silicones was found to be using propane-powered forklifts to transport flammable liquids in areas where employees handled flammable liquids and gases. Per the settlement, the company has agreed to implement a range of safety initiatives, including:
- Temporarily ceasing production and use of silicon-hydride emulsions at all facilities
- Having an engineering firm design a new process area for production
- Developing a company-wide safety and health management system
- Providing safety training to employees
- Purchasing industrial trucks properly rated for handling flammable materials
Additionally, AB Specialty Silicones must pay $1.3 million in penalties in 12 quarterly installments through September 1, 2027.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, OSHA Regional Administrator Bill Donovan said, “This agreement will never replace the four workers lost in this preventable tragedy, but it’s a step in the right direction. OSHA will continue to hold AB Specialty Silicones accountable for improving their safety culture by working with industry experts, and both management and employees to develop and continually test safety measures, emergency response procedures and training employees in hazard recognition.”
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About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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