OSHA Inspection: ROYAL BUILDERS, INC.

Issued

Mar 31, 2004

Abate by

Apr 26, 2004

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $180 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 hazards from plastic projectiles from mechanical failure
of the shop air system:
1) On March 9, 2004, and at prior times, employees were exposed to the
hazard of PVC pipe
explosion.  The employer was using schedule 40 PVC pipe to transport
compressed air in the
shop.
Among other methods, the following are feasible and acceptable methods to
minimize the
probability of injury during the transfer of compressed air in the shop:
a) Comply with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard
D1785-86, which
states polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes can be used for transportation of
compressed air and gases
only if the PVC pipes are made of shatter resistant material or are
encased in a shatter resistant
material.
b) Comply with American Nation Standards Institute/American Society of
Mechanical Engineers
(ANSI/AMSE B31.8-198, Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems
Standard, which
limits the operating pressure of plastic piping distributions systems to
100 psi and prohibits the
installation of such systems above ground except where "the above ground
portion of the plastic
service line is completely enclosed in a conduit or casing of sufficient
strength to provide
protection from external damage and deterioration."
c) Replace all existing PVC pipes with cast iron pipes, or other type of
approved piping rated
to transport compressed air safely above ground.
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see
enclosed "Sample
Abatement-Certification Letter").-Certification

Issued

Mar 31, 2004

Abate by

Apr 26, 2004

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $500 Reduced

Issued

Mar 31, 2004

Abate by

Apr 26, 2004

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

Mar 31, 2004

Abate by

Apr 26, 2004