Lockout Tagout

OSHA’s view on “troubleshooting” with open guards

This week we saw OSHA issue $300K in citations to a MS papermill, of which LOTO was an area that was cited.  One particular situation that caught my eye was the citation regarding “troubleshooting” behind a guard…. (see item (a) below)… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

OSHA’s view on “troubleshooting” with open guards Read More »

Lockout Alert! Disconnect on Doors

Recently I came across a situation at a facility that is NOT all that uncommon and we need to spread the word.  It involves using an electrical disconnect on an electrical panel door.  As you will see in the STAGED video (NO one was at risk in the video) that I turned the disconnect off,…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Lockout Alert! Disconnect on Doors Read More »

Can I do Servicing and/or Maintenance tasks without the aid of LOTO?

I like direct statements and clear concise rules when it comes to drawing the lines of safety and production and maintenance.  But too often, these lines get drawn in the wrong spot and cause safety all kinds of issues and let’s admit it… gives safety a bad name.  One such line is when lockoout/tagout (LOTO)…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Can I do Servicing and/or Maintenance tasks without the aid of LOTO? Read More »

How a machine safe guarding device is for production and not for maintenance

It is important to emphasize that the machine guarding requirements of 29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart O standards COMPLEMENT THE REQUIREMENTS for LOTO. In some instances, an employer may avoid the requirements of the LOTO, if they ELIMINATE exposure to servicing and maintenance hazards by using machine guarding techniques compliant with those standards.   It is also important to…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

How a machine safe guarding device is for production and not for maintenance Read More »

The basics of Lockout/Tagout starts with Machine Guarding

Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) STARTS WITH machine gaurding. Yes, MACHINE GAURDING – we can not even begin to speak of LOTO until we first have the forms of hazardous energy properly gaurded for our NORMAL OPERATIONS.  Because when the machine/equipment is being used for its inteded purpose(s) (e.g. Normal Operations) we are FIRST REQUIRED to ensure that…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

The basics of Lockout/Tagout starts with Machine Guarding Read More »

OSHA’s official position on LOTO-AFFECTED PERSONNEL

WOW… my LOTO ppt for “Affected Personnel” that I posted earlier this week has caused quite the “back and forth” with too many people/sites.  I just assumed that we had a basic understanding of “who falls into the “affected” bucket” and “what they must know”.  Affected employees do NOT need to attend a 2-hour training…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

OSHA’s official position on LOTO-AFFECTED PERSONNEL Read More »

OSHRC LOTO decision on “unexpected start-up”

WOW… just WOW!  I feel like I am in the twilight zone after reading this decision.  I am not a big fan of government shutdowns, but right now, I wish the OSHRC would get shut down.  It is rare, but it does happen when I take serious issues with decisions of the OSHRC, and this…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

OSHRC LOTO decision on “unexpected start-up” Read More »

Do you call this Tagout or is it a Lockout Exception

In this last part of 2018, I have been on a LOTO crusade; I have been to 12 different facilities since August to help them understand LOTO.  Some projects were complete new builds, some were to help with implementing Group LOTO, and a few were to training company safety professionals on the OSHA requirements so…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Do you call this Tagout or is it a Lockout Exception Read More »

Does your LOTO program define/quantify “hazardous energy”?

One of my favorite courses to teach is my LOTO Overview course, where I try and convey the OSHA minimum requirements for a functioning Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) program, and each time I do this course I always tell my “water fountain story” from my days at Great Lakes Chemical.  My plant manager at GLCC was a…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Does your LOTO program define/quantify “hazardous energy”? Read More »

OSHA submits RFI regarding computer-based controls of hazardous energy vs. traditional LOTO

Recent technological advancements that employ computer-based controls of hazardous energy (e.g., mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, chemical, and radiation) conflict with OSHA’s existing lock-out/tag-out standard. These computer-based controls have become more prevalent as equipment manufacturers modernize their designs. Additionally, national consensus standards and international standards harmonization govern the design and use of computer-based controls. This approach of…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

OSHA submits RFI regarding computer-based controls of hazardous energy vs. traditional LOTO Read More »

UPDATE on OSHRC and Court Decision on LOTO Fatality involving a counter weight

This is a follow-up to a previously posted case.  An electrical contractor at a steel mill was in a danger zone when the mill technician began locking out the equipment.  The LOTO procedure required some counterweights to be lowered to the ground (i.e., ZES).  When the mill technician released the counterweight, an apprentice with the…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

UPDATE on OSHRC and Court Decision on LOTO Fatality involving a counter weight Read More »

Scroll to Top