MOSCOW (MRC) -- Solvay Specialty Polymers will pay USD115,000 in federal fines for health and safety violations in a New Jersey plastics and chemical plant, according to U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), according to Plastemart.
OSHA issued an Aug. 1 citation for three repeat and eight serious safety violations, including: incomplete process safety information for equipment; failure to review operating procedures to comply with safety practices; failure to inspect and test equipment; failure to follow established procedures to manage changes to process chemicals, technology, equipment, and/or facilities; failure to respond properly to a compliance audit.
Solvay SA acquired the West Deptford, N.J., facility in 2002 and folded it into Solvay Specialty Polymers USA LLC in 2012.
"Our inspectors focused on vinylidene fluoride, a liquified flammable gas manufactured and used at Solvay Specialty Polymers' chemical facility," said Paula Dixon-Roderick, director of OSHA's regional office in a statement. "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."
In March, Solvay settled a class-action lawsuit alleging that the same facility discharged perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) into the borough's water supply from 2009 through 2014. Under the settlement, Solvay agreed to pay USD1.84 million into two funds: a USD420,000 fund for monetary awards to Paulsboro, N.J. residents and a USD1.42 million fund for resident blood tests. PFNA if used as surfactant in PVDF production.
As MRC reported earlier, in May 2016, Solvay signed a definitive agreement with Brazilian chemical group Unipar Carbocloro to sell its 70.59% stake in Solvay Indupa. "Solvay’s divestment of Indupa follows our announced early exit of our European PVC joint venture as Solvay is transforming into a specialty chemicals group," said Vincent De Cuyper, member of Solvay’s Executive Committee. "In acquiring Solvay Indupa, Unipar will strengthen its strategic position in the caustic soda and chlorine value chain extending its chemical footprint in PVC and allowing for the further development of Indupa."
Solvay, with a market share 27%, is the second largest PVC manufacturer in Europe, after Kerling with 29% of the market. Solvay is headquartered in Brussels with about 30,900 employees spread across 53 countries. It generated pro forma net sales of EUR12.4 bn in 2015, with 90% made from activities where it ranks among the world’s top 3 players.
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