OSHA Inspection: AVANTOR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS

Issued

Jan 23, 2020

Abate by

Feb 11, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,639 · Current $6,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.36(d)(1): Employee(s) were not able to open an exit route door from the inside at all times without keys, tools, or special knowledge:    Avantor Performance Materials/Phillipsburg, NJ- Throughout the site: The employer did not ensure that the emergency exit door was functioning. The emergency exit door was jammed shut, hence exposing employees to delay in exiting the facility in case of an emergency:   a) Building 31: The emergency exit door on the side of the Fifth Street was jammed and difficult to open.  b) Building 101: Second Floor, exit on the side of the Lower Belvidere Road had a visible damage and was difficult to open.    Condition noted on or about July 29, 2019.

Issued

Jan 23, 2020

Abate by

Feb 19, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,639 · Current $6,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(2): Exit routes were not arranged so that employees did not have to travel toward a high hazard area, unless the path of travel was effectively shielded from the high hazard area by suitable partitions or other physical barriers:    Avantor Performance Materials/Phillipsburg, NJ- Throughout the site: Employer did not prevent storage of flammables within the exit route, exposing employees to fire hazards and severe burns:  a)b) Building 31, emergency exit door on the side of the Delaware River. Pallets filled with ready to ship flammable chemicals as well as oxidizers were stored in from of the same emergency exit. Flammable chemicals included but were not limited to methanol and acetone.   b) Building 31, emergency exit door on the side of the Delaware River: Flammable storage cabinet, filled with spray cans, was placed next to the emergency exit door. Pallets filled with ready to ship flammable chemicals as well as oxidizers were stored in front of the same emergency exit. Flammable chemicals included but were not limited to methanol and acetone.    Condition noted on or about July 29, 2019.

Issued

Jan 23, 2020

Abate by

Feb 19, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(3): Exit route(s) were not kept free and unobstructed:  Avantor Performance Materials/Phillipsburg, NJ- Throughout the site: Employer failed to maintain unobstructed egress throughout the site, including but not limited to the following areas:  a) Building 14, Women's locker room: The emergency exit on the side of the North Main Street was obstructed by a chair, ladder, and towel placed on the floor. b) Building 118, Methanol storage area: The emergency exit on the side of the North Main Street, the only exit in this area, was blocked by pallets filled with boxes containing Methanol. In case of an emergency such as fire employees would be trapped in this area. c) Building 31, emergency exit door on the side of the Fifth Street: Outside this emergency exit door was a spill containment. In addition, stairs or a ramp was not provided where the exit route was not substantially leveled and required employees to step up 7 inches and step down 17 inches. Thus, exposing them to trip hazards.   Condition noted on or about July 29, 2019.

Issued

Jan 23, 2020

Abate by

Feb 28, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,639 · Current $6,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(4): The direction of travel to the exit or exit discharge was not immediately apparent, signs were not posted along the exit access indicating the direction of travel to the nearest exit and exit discharge. Additionally, the line-of-sight to an exit sign was not clearly visible:    Avantor Performance Materials/Phillipsburg, NJ: Throughout the site- The employer did not ensure that directional exit signs were provided in the flammable storage area, where the line-of-site to an exit was not clearly visible. In a case of an emergency such as fire, employees' exit from the site can be delayed, exposing them to fire hazards. Condition was noted in but not limited to the following locations:  a) Building 14  b) Building 31    Condition noted on or about July 29, 2019.

Issued

Jan 23, 2020

Abate by

Feb 19, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(6): Each exit sign was not illuminated to a surface value of at least five foot-candles (54 lux) by a reliable light source and be distinctive in color:  Avantor Performance Materials/Phillipsburg, NJ- The employer did not ensure that exit signs located above the emergency exit door were illuminated hence, exposing employees to delay when exiting the building in an emergency. Condition observed throughout the site in areas where flammables are used and stored, in buildings such as but not limited to: a) Building 14: The emergency exit sign located above the emergency exit door on the side of the Delaware River b) Building 31: The emergency exit sign located above the emergency exit door on the side of the Fifth Street c) Building 1: The emergency exit sign located above the emergency exit door from men's locker room d) Building 110: The emergency exit sign located above the emergency exit door on the second floor on the side of the Delaware River as well as the side  e) Building 101: The emergency exit sign located above the emergency exit door on the second floor on the side of the Lower Belvidere Road f) Building 126: The emergency exit sign in the solvent storage area.  Condition noted on or about July 29, 2019.

Issued

Jan 23, 2020

Abate by

Feb 19, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,639 · Current $6,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the identity of the hazardous chemical(s) contained therein:    a) Avantor Performance Materials/Phillipsburg, NJ-Laboratory Room 201: The employer did not ensure that container with Liquid Nitrogen which is used in laboratory for quality testing, was labeled. Hence, exposing employees to chemical burns.      Condition noted on or about July 29, 2019.