OSHA Inspection: MEARS TOOL AND DIE, INC.

Issued

Apr 12, 2006

Abate by

Jun 6, 2006

Penalty

Initial $225 · Current $146 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employmnent 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 potentially exposed to flying plastic shards, plastic projectiles
(pipe fragments), and
decompressing air because polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic pipes and
plastic pipe fittings were
being used to transport compressed air:
A.) Mears Tool & Die, Inc./PVC Piping System/Shop Wide:  Compressed air was
transported through PVC pipes throughout the shop  and was utilized for
air wands and
machine componets (e.g. EDM wire feeder). ---- The Plastic Pipe Institute's
Recommendation B requires PVC piping used for the transport of compressed
air to be
buried or encased in shatter resistant materials. Furthermore, the
manufacturers of PVC
plastic pipes and plastic pipe fittings warn against the use of PVC
pipes/fittings for the
transportation of compressed air.  The PVC/pipe fittings manufacturers
convey these
warnings verbally through sales/personnel distributors, web sites,
catalogs, product
literature, and on cans of solvent cement.  ASME/ANSI B31.8 - Transmission
and
Distribution Piping Systems Standard prohibits the installation of plastic
pipe air line
systems above ground except where the above ground portion of the plastic
service line
is completely enclosing in a conduit or casing of sufficient strength to
provide protection
from external damage and deterioration.
ABATEMENT NOTE:
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means to correct the
conditions
noted
above included the following:
Option #1 -  Encase the PVC pips and PVC pipe fittings in shatter resistant
materials e.g. metal pipes, wooden boxed conduit lined with fiber glass,
steel box
conduit, etc.
Option #2 -  Remove the PVC pipes and PVC pipe fittings.  Install metal
pipe
fittings that meet ASTM specifications for transporting compressed air.
Option #3 -  Remove the PVC Pipes and PVC pipe fittings.  Install plastic
pipes
and pipe fittings that meet ASTM specifications for transporting
compressed air.
These systems utilize specialized acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)
plastic or
high density poly ethylene (HDPE) plastic.  Plastic pipe and plastic
fittings
designed for compressed are have a unique color and are coupled with
specialized
fittings and/or equipment (e.g. fusion).
**Note**: DO NOT confuse the ABS utilize in the specialized compressed air
systems with ABS-DVW.  ABS-DVW is available at most hardware stores and
home centers.  ABS-DVW is not designed to transport compressed air.

Issued

Apr 12, 2006

Abate by

Jun 6, 2006

Penalty

Initial $300 · Current $195 Reduced

Issued

Apr 12, 2006

Abate by

Jun 6, 2006

Issued

Apr 12, 2006

Abate by

Jun 6, 2006

Penalty

Initial $300 · Current $195 Reduced

Issued

Apr 12, 2006

Abate by

Jun 6, 2006

Issued

Apr 12, 2006

Abate by

Jun 6, 2006

Issued

Apr 12, 2006

Abate by

Jun 6, 2006

Penalty

Initial $300 · Current $195 Reduced

Issued

Apr 12, 2006

Abate by

Jun 6, 2006

Issued

Apr 12, 2006

Abate by

Jun 6, 2006