Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 003 Hazard:

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): 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 exploding plastic air pipe: (a)Global Harvest Foods Ltd. at 101 West Railroad Ave., Akron, CO 80720: In the shop area of the facility, the employer was transporting above ground compressed air through not shatter resistant 1/2 inch polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes. The PVC pipe is used to supply compressed air up to 110 PSI throughout the facility and in the maintenance shop. This condition exposed the employees to the hazard of being struck by plastic shrapnel if the pipe explodes. Among other methods, two feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazard are to: (1)Follow American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard D1785-86, which states polyvinyl chloride (PVC), pipe can be used for transmission of compressed air and gases only if the PVC pipe is made of shatter resistant material or are encased in a shatter resistant material. (2)Replace all existing PVC pipes with a cast iron or other type of metal type piping rated to transport compressed air safely above ground.