Federal workplace safety officials have proposed $446,864 in penalties against car wash operator ModWash LLC, saying the company willfully exposed employees to hazardous energy and failed to protect workers from excessive noise.
The U.S. Department of Labor announced the citations Sept. 23. ModWash operates express car washes across the country, including five locations in Sicklerville, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Inspectors with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that workers performed maintenance without equipment being locked out and without procedures to control hazardous energy, the department said.
Lockout/tagout measures protect workers by preventing machinery from unexpectedly starting or releasing stored energy during maintenance.
OSHA also issued two repeat citations involving inadequate instructions for controlling equipment’s energy sources and a failure to train employees in lockout/tagout procedures.
Five additional violations were classified as serious. They involved failures to implement noise monitoring, provide baseline hearing tests within six months of exposure, train employees exposed to noise above 85 decibels, supply lockout/tagout devices and attach those devices before servicing machinery.
The department’s announcement did not include a response from ModWash or report any worker injuries.
ModWash has locations in Cherry Hill, Clementon, Magnolia, Millville, Pleasantville, Sicklerville, Toms River, Turnersville and Vineland, with another planned in Linden, according to the company’s website.
The penalties are proposed and may be contested.
ModWash had until October 21, 2026, to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA, or challenge the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
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