Up to a point central compressed air solutions do have H&S issues I recall one of my thermo fluid lecturers saying well if the main pressure vessel failed it would have demolished the building.
They make many pressure rated air hoses in those communities? Didn't think so. As previous poster noted, it is all effectively arbitrary window dressing.
If it where the case they should be using belt drive driven by wind/horse power - until fairly recently mech eng techs in the uk where taught how to design belt drive systems