OSHA Inspection: SYMRISE INC.

Issued

Dec 1, 2015

Abate by

Jan 3, 2016

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $5,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1): Open-sided floor(s) or platform(s) 4 feet (1.22 m) or more above the adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded by standard railings (or the equivalent as specified in 29 CFR 1910.23(e)(3)), on all open sides:  Symrise Inc./Branchburg, NJ site- Flavor Production Area: Maintenance employees use the top of the Clean in Place (CIP) tanks (approximately 8ft in height) as a work surface to access valves and perform servicing work. The top of the tanks was not guarded by railings or the equivalent, exposing employees to fall hazards.  Condition observed on or about June 2, 2015.

Issued

Dec 1, 2015

Abate by

Jan 3, 2016

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $5,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(2)(iv)(d): Flammable liquids were not drawn from or transferred into vessels, containers, or portable tanks within a building only through a closed piping system, from safety cans, by means of a device drawing through the top, or from a container or portable tanks by gravity through an approved self-closing valve:  Symrise Inc./Branchburg, NJ site- Flavor Production Area: Flammable liquid such as but not limited to Diacetyl (having flash point 44.6 F), was dispensed from a 55 gallon drum through a plastic spigot which was not self closing.  Additionally, safety can(s) were not provided and used in all areas to dispense and store Category 2 flammable liquid(s).   Violation observed on or about July 14, 2015.

Issued

Dec 1, 2015

Abate by

Dec 19, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:  Symrise Inc./Branchburg, NJ Site - Flavor Production Area:  The employer failed to develop written energy control procedure to be utilized during the cleaning of equipment such as but not limited to Niro tank.   Condition observed on or about August 11, 2015.

Issued

Dec 1, 2015

Abate by

Dec 19, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,875 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii):   Procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(A), (c)(4)(ii)(B), (c)(4)(ii)(C) and (c)(4)(ii)(D)(h):    Symrise Inc./Branchburg, NJ Site - Flavor Production Area: The employer failed to clearly identify all of the specific steps to be followed by employees to isolate and disable the tanks in order to safely de-energize the equipment and control the hazardous energy of the equipment used on site including but not limited to all processing tanks, e.g., Bowen and Anhydro tank.     Condition observed on or about August 11, 2015.

Issued

Dec 1, 2015

Abate by

Jan 3, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $7,000

Hazardous substances D740

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(i)(B)(1): The employer did not select a respirator for employee use that maintained the employee's exposure to the hazardous substance, when measured outside the respirator, at or below the maximum use concentration:    Symrise Inc./Branchburg, NJ Site  Flavor Production Area:       1) On July 14, 2015 a compounder handling Diacetyl during Cocoa Flavor formulation was exposed to Diacetyl at a level of 31.8678 parts per million (ppm) as a 15 minute Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL). This exposure exceeded the 0.020 ppm STEL established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) for exposure to Diacetyl by 1593 times. This exposure also exceeded the 1 ppm Maximum Use Concentration (MUC) of the employees Full-face air-purifying respirator by 31.8678 times, exposing the employee to the hazard of severe lung disease and obstruction of lung airways.       2) On July 14, 2015 a compounder handling Diacetyl during Cocoa Flavor formulation was exposed to Diacetyl at a level of 1.0398 parts per million (ppm) as an 8-hour TWA (zero exposures were assumed for unsampled time). This exposure exceeded the 0.010 ppm TWA established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) for exposure to Diacetyl by 103 times.  This exposure also exceeded the 0.5 ppm Maximum Use Concentration (MUC) of the employees Full-face air-purifying respirator by 2.0796 times, exposing the employee to the hazard of severe lung disease and obstruction of lung airways.      3) On August 6, 2015 a compounder handling Diacetyl during Butter Flavor formulation was exposed to Diacetyl at a level of 20.2789 parts per million (ppm) as a 15 minute Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL). This exposure exceeded the 0.020 ppm STEL established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) for exposure to Diacetyl by 1013 times. This exposure also exceeded the 1 ppm Maximum Use Concentration (MUC) of the employees Full-face air-purifying respirator by 20.2789 times, exposing the employee to the hazard of severe lung disease and obstruction of lung airways.       4) On August 6, 2015 a compounder handling Diacetyl during Butter Flavor formulation was exposed to Diacetyl at a level of 80.1006 parts per million (ppm) as a 15 minute Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL). This exposure exceeded the 0.020 ppm STEL established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) for exposure to Diacetyl by 4005 times. This exposure also exceeded the 1 ppm Maximum Use Concentration (MUC) of the employees Full-face air-purifying respirator by 80.1006 times, exposing the employee to the hazard of severe lung disease and obstruction of lung airways.     5) On August 6, 2015 a compounder handling Diacetyl during Butter Flavor formulation was exposed to Diacetyl at a level of 47.5533 parts per million (ppm) as a 15 minute Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL). This exposure exceeded the 0.020 ppm STEL established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) for exposure to Diacetyl by 2377 times. This exposure also exceeded the 1 ppm Maximum Use Concentration (MUC) of the employees Full-face air-purifying respirator by 47.5533 times, exposing the employee to the hazard of severe lung disease and obstruction of lung airways.    6) On August 6, 2015 a compounder handling Diacetyl during Butter Flavor formulation was exposed to Diacetyl at a level of 10.004 parts per million (ppm) as an 8-hour TWA (zero exposures were assumed for unsampled time). This exposure exceeded the 0.010 ppm TWA established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) for exposure to Diacetyl by 1000 times.  This exposure also exceeded the 0.5 ppm Maximum Use Concentration (MUC) of the employees Full-face air-purifying respirator by 20.008 times, exposing the employee to the hazard of severe lung disease and obstruction of lung airways.