Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: STRUCK BY

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 a struck-by hazard while working near a pneumatic pipe plug: a) Location:In the pit/vault where storm water pipes merge prior to entering the detention pond. Employees suffered injuries while they were working in a storm-water vault directly exposed to the physical hazards of a pneumatic pipe plug. The plug was installed inside a 5' concrete pipe between the vault and the detention pond. The plug failed and air pressure (approximately 2500 lbs of pressure) confronted the workers as well as the water that the plug was holding back from the detention pond. Violation occurred on or about 5/6/05. One feasible and acceptable method of abatement would be to: Follow the Safety Instructional Manual that was supplied with the several Cherne Pneumatic Pipe Plugs that were purchased and used in the past. SAFETY INSTRUCTIONAL MANUAL - A Guide to the safe and proper use of Cherne Pneumatic Pipe Plugs "Never rely on pipeline plugs as the only means to prevent injury or property damage. Never enter the danger zone during use." "Never rely on the use of the pipeline plugs to prevent injury or property damage. Always provide a backup system."