Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 005 Hazard: PUNCTURE

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 potential injuries from pvc pipe explosion hazards: a) Main Building/storage area: Workers operating forklifts and working in this area were exposed to potential injuries (lacerations, puncture wounds) due to the installation and use of a compressed air thermoplastic piping system (PVC) throughout the building. While workers handle and store bagged materials, and operating forklifts, there is potential for the pvc pipes to be damaged and explode under pressure sending shards of plastic flying in all directions, on or about 07/23/07. a) Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to install a conduit or casing which would completely enclose the above ground portions of the plastic service line, and which would be of sufficient strength to provide protection from external damage and deterioration. b) Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is to replace all plastic piping with a material or materials approved for such use by the American National Standards Institute and/or the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and/or the American Society for Testing Materials and/or by using Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) plastic pipe which has been approved for use with compressed air supply. ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED