OSHA Inspection: AVIENT CORPORATION

Issued

May 22, 2023

Penalty

Initial $8,539 · Current $5,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 049006891591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(2): The employer did not ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator is fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) is used, and at least annually thereafter.   a) Avient - On or about December 8 , 2022, employees were required to wear half-face elastomeric respirators to protect them from inhalation hazards of lead, cadmium, and chromium dust while weighing and blending pellets and powders containing these chemicals.  The employer did not ensure employees were fit tested annually.  No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

May 22, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 049006891591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(k): The employer did not provide comprehensive, understandable training which did not occur annually and/or more often if necessary:  a) Avient - On or about December 8 , 2022, employees were required to wear half-face elastomeric respirators to protect them from inhalation hazards of lead, cadmium, and chromium dust while weighing and blending pellets and powders containing these chemicals.   The employer did not provide employees with training on respirators in accordance with this section.  No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

May 22, 2023

Abate by

Jun 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $14,063 · Current $15,000

Hazardous substances 06891591

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that containers of a hazardous chemical leaving the workplace were not labeled and marked with the required information.  a) Avient - On or about January 24, 2023, the employer was manufacturing and distributing a hazardous chemical, MC-41366PP Yellow HUV, in the form of plastic pellets, containing lead and chromium. The employer did not ensure that each container of this hazardous chemical leaving the workplace was labeled and marked with the information required in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1)(ii) through 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1)(vi).  Abatement Note: Revised labels on shipped containers to include signal work, pictograms, hazard statements, and precautionary statements and name, address and telephone number of the chemical manufacturer, importer or other responsible party matching the Safety Data Sheet must be provided to all customers with the next shipment of the chemical.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

May 22, 2023

Abate by

Jun 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 06891591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(f)(6)(ii): Except as provided in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7) and 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8), the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals and which, in conjunction with the other information immediately available to employees under the hazard communication program, would provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical:  a) Avient - On or about January 24, 2023, employees process yellow pellets containing lead and chromium in the pre-weigh department.  After weighing and bagging this product, the product was not labeled with a product identifier and/or words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof which would have provided at a minimum, general information regarding the hazard of the chemical prior to the chemical moving on to another department for blending.   Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 22, 2023

Abate by

Jun 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 06891591

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that a Safety Data Sheet for a manufactured chemical did not contain the required information.  a) Avient - On or about January 24, 2023, the employer was manufacturing and distributing plastic pellets that contain lead and chromium. The employer did not prepare the safety data sheet for their final product MC-41366PP Yellow HUV in accordance with this section by not properly listing the manufacturer's address, signal words, specific composition ingredients (lead and chromium%), symptoms for acute and chronic exposure under Hazards identification, and acute and chronic health effects under Toxicological Data.  Abatement Note: Employer must transmit corrected safety data sheet to all customers with the next shipment of the chemical.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.