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

Section 5(a)(1) of Public Law 91-596, 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 struck-by hazards from a sudden and unexpected release of air pressure. (a)On or about November 8, 2011 in the tank department, pressure vessels were not being hydrostatically pressure tested and employees were exposed to struck-by hazards due to the absence of an adequate barrier between the employee and the vessel being tested pneumatically or the failure to separate the employee a safe distance from the vessel being tested pneumatically. Among others, some feasible and useful abatement methods to correct this hazard are to use hydrostatic pressure testing of vessels or to protect employees by an adequate barrier or by moving the employees a safe distance away from the vessel being pressure tested.