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 hazards of being struck by fragments of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) plastic pipe in the event that the PVC plastic pipe ruptured: a)Poly - Fabricators, Inc. shop: On or about February 29, 2012 and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to the hazards of being struck by fragments of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) plastic pipe in the event that the PVC plastic pipe ruptured. Plastic pipe was used in above ground locations throughout the facility to transport compressed air from a Sip Soy Valley compressor model 515-0351 at 45 PSI through 3/4 inch PVC pipe. b)Poly - Fabricators, Inc. shop: On or about February 29, 2012 and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to the hazards of being struck by fragments of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) plastic pipe in the event that the PVC plastic pipe ruptured. Plastic pipe was used in above ground locations throughout the facility to transport compressed air from an unmarked compressor that had no equipment identification tag at 100 PSI through 1/2 inch PVC pipe. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazard include, replace PVC piping and fittings with metal piping and fittings, which are rated to transport compressed air in exposed above ground locations or replace PVC piping and fittings with Acrylonitrile - Butadiene Styrene (ABS) pipes and fittings, which are shatter resistant and manufactured for above ground used of compressed air.