Page 30 - Plastics News January 2022

CoMPANY NEwS

OSHA Imposes Fines Of $232,103 On Diakin AGC C hemicals

Americas Inc. to
Expand Its Facility

GC Chemicals Americas
AInc. (AGCCA) announces
an expansion at its Thorndale,
Pennsylvania, production facility that
will add up to fifty percent more
manufacturing, quality control lab
and office space. The multiuse
facility will be configured to meet the
growing needs of current business
and accommodate future production
increases and new capabilities.In
2021, AGC Japan established the
Global Compounds business unit,
he US Department of Labor’s to assess chemical exposures, provide headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania,
TOccupational Safety and Health written procedures that identify the to manage customer needs over multiple
Administration (OSHA) issued chemical required level of respiratory protection, markets in various geographical regions
maker Diakin America Inc. a proposed and communicate to workers the hazards that the Thorndale site services.AGC
fine of $232,103 after two workers died linked to the chemicals. “Two families designated the Thorndale plant for
and a third was injured during an incident will enter 2022 without their loved ones expansion and execution of its business
at the firm’s manufacturing facility and one family will have the long-lasting
in Alabama. An agency investigation memory of a frightening and serious
determined that three chemical operators illness,” OSHA Area Director Ramona
were exposed to toxic fluorocarbon Morris in Birmingham, AL said in a
and other hazardous chemicals at the statement. “This tragic event should serve
plant on July 2, 2021, according to as a lesson for all employers to ensure
a release distributed Monday. Three effective safety protocols are established
workers experienced respiratory failure before initiating maintenance activities
involving chemical processing equipment
and were hospitalized. Two of the and systems.” Daikin America received
employees died.OSHA found that the nine serious and one willful violation.
exposure happened as the workers The company has 15 business days after continuity plan because of its strong
were carrying out maintenance work receiving the citations to comply, contest technical capabilities in compounding
that required a processing line break, the findings before an independent panel, fluoropolymer resins and large presence
a nitrogen purge, and atmospheric or request an informal conference with in the transportation, aerospace,
venting of the equipment. The agency an OSHA area director. OSHA is part energy, industrial, semiconductor
said Diakin America failed to put of the United States Department of and coatings markets. Construction
critical safe work practices in place Labor. The administrator for OSHA began in December 2021 with a target
as required under OSHA’s Process is the Assistant Secretary of Labor for completion date of July 2023. “Local
Safety Management (PSM) standard. Occupational Safety and Health. OSHA's government supports this expansion
Diakin America also failed to provide administrator answers to the Secretary of because it will utilize regional and local
appropriate respiratory protection and Labor, who is a member of the cabinet construction resources,” said Michael
personal protective equipment. The of the President of the United States. Lim, senior director of manufacturing
investigation also revealed that the The OSH Act covers most private sector technology and operations for AGCCA.
company did not perform air monitoring employers and their worker.

30 PLASTICS NEWS JANUARY 2022