Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: STRUCK BY

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 employees were exposed to the hazard of being struck by fragments of plastic pipe used to transport compressed air for the operation of pneumatic staplers and cleaning nozzles in the event the pipe ruptures (a) Main shop - Throughout the shop, along the north and south walls at approximately 3 feet above the floor, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic pipe was used to transport compressed air, approximately 125 psi, in exposed above ground location, for the operation of pneumatic staplers and cleaning nozzles. This practice is not recommended by the Plastic Pipe Institute and prohibited by ANSI/ASME B31-8-1986 Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems Standard. This condition exposes employees to the potential hazards of flying fragments, on or about August 1, 1991. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is to replace the PVC piping with a type of pipe that is approved for transporting compressed gases in exposed above ground locations, such as iron or stel piping.