Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 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 plastic shrapnel associated with the rupture of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic pipe: a) On or about 06/17/09, at the maintenance shop, the employer had compressed air routed through PVC plastic pipe. The operating pressure of the compressed air system was approximately 150 psi. Employees working in and around this area were exposed to the hazard of being struck by rupturing PVC pipe. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct the hazard is to encase the PVC pipe in conduit or shatter-resistant material or replace with metal (copper or steel) pipe.