Ohio Chemical Company Cited After Vapor Release

Federal workplace safety officials have cited a chemical company for dozens of violations and propose $545,000 in fines after a vapor release temporarily closed a northeast Ohio plant and a nearby highway.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Wednesday it cited Dover Chemical Corp. for 47 health and safety violations. They include not fixing deficiencies found in compliance audits and having inadequate information about the hazardous effects of inadvertently mixing chemicals.

The company can challenge the findings. Its office said the company president was unavailable for comment Wednesday.

Officials opened an investigation after hazardous materials were released in May after a breach in a piping system at the plant in Dover, about 45 miles south of Akron. No injuries were reported.

The plant’s output includes additives for flame-resistant products.