OSHA Inspection: AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL POLYMERS, INC.

Issued

Feb 5, 2004

Abate by

Feb 11, 2004

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $360 Reduced

General-duty citation text

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 hazard of explosive release of compressed air and
flying shards of PVC
pipe:
a)  At the site in the fabrication building, employees were exposed to the
hazards of
flying objects from shattering PVC pipe used to transport and  store
compressed air used in the
fabrication operation.
Among others, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is
to use black iron,
steel or other suitable materials to pipe compressed air.   Polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) pipe is not
appropriate medium for transporting compressed air even if the pipe rating
exceeds the rating
of the compressed air compressor.  When PVC is exposed to ultraviolet rays
normally
in the air
(sunlight), it tends to break down.  However, the inherent hazard of using
PVC to transport
compressed air throughout the plant is that if it ruptures, shards of
plastic pipe is propelled like
shrapnel throughout thee area that could cause death or serious physical
harm to employees.

Issued

Feb 5, 2004

Abate by

Feb 11, 2004

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $360 Reduced

Issued

Feb 5, 2004

Abate by

Feb 11, 2004

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $630 Reduced

Issued

Feb 5, 2004

Abate by

Feb 11, 2004

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $360 Reduced

Issued

Feb 5, 2004

Abate by

Feb 11, 2004

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $360 Reduced