Friday, May 18, 2012
Bostik and the federal safety officials have settled on $600,000 in fines for the explosion that rocked the Middleton adhesives plant in 2011.
Federal safety officials announced Thursday they had reached a settlement with Bostik for $600,000 in fines for the explosion that rocked the Middleton adhesives plant in March 2011 and injured four workers. The Boston Road plant is located near the North Reading/Middleton line and right near the town lines with Lynnfield and Peabody. The Sunday evening explosion rocked nearby houses and was heard and felt across the North Shore. Bostik was originally fined last fall for $917,000 after a six-month investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration found numerous safety violations, but that fine has now been reduced. OSHA cited Bostik for violations of federal safety requirements and procedures employers must follow to "…
Thursday, March 24, 2011
The company is still weeks away from resuming operations, according to a statement.
Bostik Inc. employees began returning to work at the Middleton adhesives plant Thursday, while cleanup efforts continue after the March 13 explosion and fire, the company announced. Some employees returned to the site several days ago, as cleanup efforts began Saturday, the company said in a statement Thursday. All employees have been advised to report for work Monday, the company said. Cleanup efforts are ongoing, with an immediate focus on restoring steam, electricity, gas and information technology capabilities, the company said. Some of those services have been restored in the past 24 hours. Workers also are assessing the condition of the plant's equipment, raw materials and finished goods. "I must stress this does not mean we will be …
Monday, March 21, 2011
An investigation into the March 13 explosion continues.
Cleanup efforts at Bostik Inc. in Middleton began Saturday, a week after an explosion and fire tore through the adhesive manufacturing plant and injured four employees. Bostik workers and contractors began securing and removing loose materials and debris as a safety precaution for investigators and cleanup crews, the company said in a statement Monday. Workers are following requirements for the removal of hazardous debris, sealing windows and skylights, and assessing site inventory, the company said. "This cleanup phase of our incident response puts us on the path toward eventual re-opening of this important facility," Bill Campbell, Bostik's president and CEO, said in the statement. "However, there is much significant work to be done to …
Sunday, March 20, 2011
A look back at the week that was in North Reading.
It's the end of another busy week. If you missed a story, we've got you covered. Click on the links below to read more of last week's top news:
Saturday, March 19, 2011
A look at chatter across social media this week.
Here at North Reading Patch, social media is a big deal. It's how we interact with you, answer your questions and get to see what's on your mind. Social Media Saturday is a weekly feature where we highlight your questions and thoughts you've shared on Facebook and other media throughout the past week. We'll also point you to some new and interesting pages you may not have known about before. Overheard Here is a sampling of comments and happenings on our Facebook page and the social media world from the past week: Facebook page of the week Check out Moynihan Lumber's Facebook page this week. For every new fan that Moynihan Lumber receives by April 30, it will donate $1 to the North Reading Food Pantry. Your town on Facebook For more …
Friday, March 18, 2011
The company urges residents to call the toll-free number to report any damage that may have resulted from Sunday's explosion, which remains under investigation.
Bostik Inc. has established a toll-free number for property owners to report potential damage from an explosion and four-alarm fire that rocked the Middleton plant Sunday night, the company announced in a statement Thursday afternoon. Area residents and property owners may call 1-866-242-1802 to report potential damage. "Getting information out in a timely way and making it easier for people with concerns to contact us directly is part of our current focus," Bostik Inc. President and CEO Bill Campbell said in a statement. "If people have a claim or any concern, we want to know sooner than later so that we can address it." Crews from across the North Shore responded to the Middleton adhesive and sealant plant shortly after 7:30 p.m. Sunday …
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
House minority leader toured the damaged Bostik plant in Middleton on Monday and said the situation could have been much worse.
Emergency response protocols and training, some of which were instituted after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, worked during Sunday night's explosion at the Bostik Inc. plant in Middleton, state Rep. Bradley H. Jones Jr. said after touring the damage. Jones, the House Republican leader from North Reading whose district includes the area around the plant, toured the site with state Rep. Brad Hill on Monday. In an interview at his State House office on Tuesday, Jones said public-safety agencies from across the North Shore appeared to have responded by the book Sunday night. "One of the interesting things for me to observe was how professionally all the agencies seemed to interact," Jones said. "There were protocols in place on who to call." …
Monday, March 14, 2011
A roundup of the region's major developments for Monday, March 14.
Welcome to PatchCast. Every weekday at 6 p.m. we'll fill you in on the top stories from across the region. Today is Monday, March 14. Follow these links for more on today's featured stories:
State fire marshal says plant shut down as investigation into cause continues.
Fire officials say the Bostik plant explosion Sunday night has not adversely impacted air or water quality after several tests were conducted by Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection staff. "There has never been any issues with air or water quality," said Frank Twiss, Middleton's fire chief and emergency management director. He added that the cause of the explosion that injured four employees is still under investigation. Twiss was joined by State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan, Middleton Police Chief James DiGianvittorio, town Public Health Director Derek Fullerton, Town Administrator Ira Singer and two Bostik Plant officials, General Manager Rich Dautilio and plant manager Nat Weiner, at a Monday afternoon press conference. …
Crews from across the North Shore and the state responded to the Bostik explosion in Middleton Sunday night.
Local and state agencies responded to Middleton Sunday night after there was an explosion at the Bostik chemical plant in Middleton that was felt across the North Shore. Four were injured in the explosion. Officials said none of the injuries were life-threatening. Officials said air quality was not compromised; water in the area was still being inspected for contamination. There were no evacuations to area homes. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation. The North Reading Fire Department provided mutual aid at the scene. Officers from the North Reading Police Department assisted with traffic control on Route 62 at the Middleton border.
