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: On or about the afternoon of 7/5/05 employees working with, and in the vicinity of, a section of compressed air hose that was not secured to prevent "whipping", were exposed to the hazard of being struck by sections of 3/4" i.d. hose, should the hose section become detached while under pressure. Employees were further exposed to the hazard of the "whipping" action in the event of hose failure in that the air compressor used to generate the compressed air was not equipped with a safety device that would reduce air pressure in case of hose failure. Among others, feasible and acceptable means to correct this hazard would be to use a clip, wire, or pin to prevent the hose connections from becoming disconnected, a safety cable or other means to restrain the hose ends should the hose connection become disconnected, and / or to install a flow limiting / excess flow valve in line between the compressor and hose to reduce pressure in the event of hose failure, or hose separation.