The failure of a Home Depot store in West Nyack, New York, to follow through on OSHA requirements in the wake of a September 2008 investigation has resulted in a new OSHA inspection and penalty assessed against the store.

In its earlier investigation, OSHA cited the store for failure to provide adequate drenching facilities for workers who might reasonably come into contact with hazardous chemicals. The agency also stated that the Home Depot outlet was not providing sufficient training and information to employees who might potentially be exposed to methylene chloride.

OSHA and Home Depot settled the case in early 2009. As part of that settlement, Home Depot stated that it would supply proof of remedial measures taken to eliminate OSHA's concerns.

Apparently, the store did not do that, and OSHA took a second look. It found that its multiple concerns were not addressed at all regarding workers in the store's plumbing and painting departments, and it fined Home Depot $82,500 as a result.

Additionally, OSHA found that workers in the store's garden and cleaning supply departments still lacked chemical drenching facilities. They fined the store an additional $25,000 for this. The agency also stated that store workers lacked safety goggles and that there was no procedure for separately storing incompatible chemicals, which exposed store employees to dangerous chemical inhalations in the event that chemicals were not mixed properly. The store was fined an additional $4,500 for these violations.

In total, the fine amounted to $112,000. Home Depot has 15 business days to respond to OSHA and comply, request a meeting or contest the penalties.

Atlanta Business Chronicle "OSHA fines Home Depot $112,000 in N.Y." July 20, 2010