OSHA Fines NJ Chemical Facility $115k for Safety ViolationsOSHA Fines NJ Chemical Facility $115k for Safety Violations

August 5, 2016

1 Min Read
OSHA Fines NJ Chemical Facility $115k for Safety Violations
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The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited a West Deptford, NJ chemical facility on August 1 for three repeat and eight serious safety violations, proposing fines totaling $115,000, the agency announced Thursday.

OSHA inspectors visiting the Solvay Specialty Polymers USA LLC facility on Feb. 6 found several repeat violations of federal process safety management regulations, which included failing to develop a set of written procedures for maintaining process equipment.

The agency also issued citations for “serious” violations, including:

  • Having incomplete process safety information for equipment in the process.

  • Failing to review operating procedures to comply with current operating practice

  • Failing to inspect and test process equipment

  • Failing to follow established procedures to manage changes to process chemicals, technology, equipment, and/or facilities

  • Failing to respond properly to a compliance audit.

“Our inspectors focused on vinylidene fluoride, a liquefied flammable gas manufactured and used at Solvay Specialty Polymers’ chemical facility. This gas poses serious safety and health risks to this company’s employees, including fire and explosion hazards, frostbite, skin and lung irritation, and liver damage associated with chronic exposures. An effective process safety management program is needed to protect workers and prevent the catastrophic release of highly hazardous chemicals,” OSHA’s Marlton, NJ area office director Paula Dixon-Roderick said in a statement.

The company has 15 business days from the receipt of the citations to comply, contest the findings before an independent board, or request a conference with OSHA’s area director.

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