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: At the facility in the mixing and molding area and spray area, on or about December 16, 2009 and prior thereto, schedule 40 PVC pipe was used for transporting compressed air exposing employees working in the area to the hazard of being struck by plastic shards in the event of pipe failure. Among other methods, the following are feasible and acceptable methods to minimize the probability of injury during the transfer of compressed air throughout the shop. 1.Follow American Society for Testing and Material (ASTM) Standard D1785- 86, which states polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes can be used for transportation for compressed air and gases only if the PVC pipes are made of shatter resistant material or are encased in a shatter resistant material. 2.Follow American National Standards Institute/American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ANSI/ASME) B31.8-1986 Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems Standard which limits the operating pressure of plastic piping distribution systems to 100 pounds per square inch (psi) and prohibits the installation of such systems above ground except where the above ground portion is completely enclosed in a conduit or casing. 3.Replace all existing PVC pipe used for compressed air with a cast iron, or other type of approved type piping rated to transport compressed air safely above ground.sed