Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 005 Hazard: CUTS

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 skin lacerations and pulmonary embolisms from exposure to high pressure compressed air: a)Complex 10, Barn 7 - An employee blowing down around chicken racks at the conveyor end of the barn was using an air hose that had 90 psi when tested with air pressure gauge. b)Barn 83, West End - Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was utilized at 60 psi when tested with an air pressure gauge. c)Barn 85, West End - Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was utilized at 95 psi when tested with an air pressure gauge. d)Egg Processing Plant No. 2 - The air hose at the tail pulley end of the egg box conveyor that was used to blow down around the egg sorting machine had 85 psi when tested with an air pressure gauge. e)Egg Processing Plant No. 6 - The air hose at the tail pulley end of the egg box conveyor that was used to blow down around the egg sorting machine had 70 psi when tested with an air pressure gauge. f)Complex 20, Barn 27 - An employee blowing down around the chicken racks at the conveyor end of the barn was using an air hose that had 60 psi when tested with an air pressure gauge. g)Complex 30, Barn 30 - The air hose at the conveyor end of the barn that was used to blow down around the chicken racks had 80 psi when tested with an air pressure gauge. h)Complex 30, Barn 34 - The air hose at the conveyor end of the barn that was used to blow down around the chicken racks had 80 psi when tested with an air pressure gauge. i)Complex 10, Barn 1 - The air hose at the conveyor end of the barn that was used to blow down around the chicken racks had 45 psi when tested with an air pressure gauge. j)Complex 20, Barn 20 - The air hose at the conveyor end of the barn used to blow down around the chicken racks had 85 psi when tested with an air pressure gauge. k)Complex 50, Barn 53 - The air hose an employee was using to clean himself had 80 psi when tested with an air pressure gauge. l)Complex 40, Plant 4 - An air hose at the tail pulley end of the egg box conveyor that was used to blow down around the egg box conveyor area had 65 psi when tested with an air pressure gauge. m)Brooder Barn #2, Poland, ME (1/26/96) - The employees cleaning/blowing down barn used compressed air at 110 psi to clean off personal clothing. n)Plant #3, Egg Packing Room. (3/6/96) - Barn Crew employee used compressed air to clean off personal clothing.o)Hatchery, Chick Room (5/9/96) - Hatchery employee #1 used compressed air to clean off personal clothing. p)Hatchery, Chick Room (5/9/96) - Hatchery employee #2 used compressed air to clean off personal clothing. q)Hatchery, Chick Room (5/9/96) - Hatchery employee #3 used compressed air to clean off personal clothing. r)Hatchery, Chick Room (5/9/96) - Hatchery employee #4 used compressed air to clean off personal clothing. s)Hatchery, Chick Room (5/9/96) - Hatchery employee #5 used compressed air to clean off personal clothing. Among other methods, one feasible and useful means of abatement would be to retrofit all air hoses with safety nozzles that restrict air pressure to 30 psi or less when dead ended.