Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 Hazard: BURNS

North Carolina General Statute 95-129(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of North Carolina: The employer did not furnish to each of his employees conditions of employment and a place of employment free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees, in that employees were exposed to flash fire burns: a)job site, hole #2 - where two employees were utilizing a 20 lb propane torch to heat shrink anti-corrosion pipe wrapping on 4" steel piping, the employer failed to displace natural gas remaining in the gas pipe line with an inert gas, in that the gas line was purged with compressed air. Reference: [NFPA 54 Chapter 7.3.1 (2002 Version): When gas piping is to be opened for an addition, a modification, or for service, the section to be worked on shall be turned off from the gas supply at the nearest convenient point and the line pressure vented to the outdoors or to ventilated areas of sufficient size to prevent accumulation of flammable mixtures. The remaining gas in this section of pipe shall be displaced with an inert gas as required by Table 7.3.1.] Abatement Note: One means of abatement to correct this hazard would be to displace any remaining gas in the pipe with an inert gas prior to starting work.