CLEVELAND, Ohio - An East Liverpool company is facing penalties after federal inspectors found that exposure to a toxic chemical sent a service technician to the hospital, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Inspectors say the technician was exposed to aniline, an industrial chemical, because adequate safeguards were not in place, which led to the technician's hospitalization in 2015.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Heritage Thermal Services in East Liverpool for four repeat and one safety violation on Feb. 12.

The citations can be viewed here. 

The news release said that in 2012, three other workers at Heritage Thermal became ill after unsafe aniline exposure and were hospitalized. Exposure to aniline can cause headache, weakness, confusion, skin lesions and cancer.

"This man suffered needlessly because Heritage Thermal again failed to provide adequate personal protective equipment to its workers tasked with toxic chemical disposal," said Howard Eberts, OSHA's area director in Cleveland. "Employers must provide respiratory protection, protective clothing, adequate ventilation, and ensure their employees are trained in the procedures to minimize exposure to toxins in the workplace. "

Investigators say they determined the technician, who had about 20 years of experience, was pumping several different hazardous wastes from drums into an outdoor kiln for incineration when he came disorientated. He was transported to the hospital for treatment.

OSHA cited Heritage Thermal Services for failing to monitor work areas and evaluate the effectiveness of respirators, implement a decontamination procedure, and provide adequate personal protective equipment and ensure it was used by employees.

OSHA has proposed penalties of $62,370, according to the release.

Hermitage Thermal Services public affairs specialist, Raymond Wayne, tells 21 News the employee involved was treated and reported to work the following day. The company has scheduled a conference with the agency to discuss OSHA's proposed findings.