OSHA Inspection: NATIONWIDE PENNANT & FLAG MANUFACTURING INC

Issued

Apr 13, 2004

Abate by

Apr 19, 2004

Penalty

Initial $900 · Current $540 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 cutting room, employees were exposed to the hazards
of flying
objects from shattering PVC pipe used to transport and  store compressed
air used in the cutting
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 the area that could cause death or serious physical
harm to employees.

Issued

Apr 13, 2004

Abate by

Apr 19, 2004

Penalty

Initial $900 · Current $540 Reduced

Issued

Apr 13, 2004

Abate by

Apr 19, 2004

Penalty

Initial $900 · Current $540 Reduced

Issued

Apr 13, 2004

Abate by

Apr 19, 2004

Issued

Apr 13, 2004

Abate by

Apr 19, 2004