OSHA Inspection: MRL (MERCHANDISE RECYCLING AND LIQUIDATION)

Issued

Apr 2, 2010

Abate by

Apr 29, 2010

Penalty

Initial $525 · Current $368 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 condition(s) listed below:
Merchandise Recycling and Liquidation (MRL), 99 S. Fillmore, Amarillo,
TX,on 02/10/2010;
employees were exposed to hazards associated with flying Shards in that
compressed air
provided for air driven tools was piped throughout the facility in
Schedule 40, 1/2 inch Polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) piping.  Employees were using a PUMA compressor operating
at 5 horsepower
(HP) and 115 pounds per square inch (psi).  PVC piping is not approved for
the transmission
of compressed air due to its tendency to fail violently, releasing
hazardous shards of sharp
plastic with sufficient force to cause serious bodily harm.  A means of
abatement
would be to
replace the existing PVC piping with a type suitable for  transmission of
compressed air.

Issued

Apr 2, 2010

Abate by

Apr 12, 2010

Penalty

Initial $525 · Current $368 Reduced

Issued

Apr 2, 2010

Abate by

Apr 12, 2010