Let’s set the record straight… “Line of sight” is HALF THE REQUIREMENT, and this term is NOT in any official language from OSHA, nor does OSHA recognize it! We see this all the time…a LOTO procedure talks about cord and plug equipment not needing to be locked out if the worker is in the “line…...
Cord and Plug Equipment and “Line of Sight” Read More »
Can businesses use tagout when lockout can be used on the energy isolation device? Simply stated, locks MUST be used when they can, UNLESS the employer can demonstrate that their tagout will PROVIDE FULL EMPLOYEE PROTECTION. Here is the exact language from 29 CFR 1910.147:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this...
Tagout vs. Lockout #2 Read More »
WARNING!!! This is a REAL 911 call from a gentleman who lost his life after a belt tore his arm off at a concrete plant. The call was edited to remove the worker’s name and other personal information (e.g., mentions of wife and kids’ names), and it was cut off to end before the man…...
911 Call – What REAL TRAGEDY sounds like (911 audio) Read More »
Some companies develop an elaborate generic energy control procedure and supplement the generic procedure with checklists or appendices to address various distinct machinery and equipment in their facilities. This type of procedure and those described above may be considered a single energy control procedure (instead of multiple procedures) for inspection purposes if all of the…...
Grouping equipment for purposes of conducting periodic LOTO inspections Read More »
OSHA says we are to have machine-specific LOTO procedures (note that there is an exception to this requirement, but in my scenario, it is not relative). In these procedures, we have to identify the following: the types of energy, their magnitudes, the means/methods to isolate and the means/methods to verify zero energy state (ZES) for…...
LOTO Machine Specific Procedures Read More »
In the USA, our Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has an exception to Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) for “cord and plug” equipment. The exception, 1910.147(a)(2)(iii)(A), states: Work on cord and plug-connected electric equipment for which exposure to the hazards of unexpected energization or start-up of the equipment is controlled by the unplugging of the equipment from…...
Defining Exclusive Control under LOTO activities Read More »
Control of Hazardous Energy Sources covers the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment in which the unexpected energization or start-up of the machines or equipment or release of stored energy could cause injury to employees. (See Appendix A) The Rule, 1910.1470(a)(2)(ii) reads: “Normal production operations are not covered by the standard. Servicing and/or maintenance…...
In the USA, our Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) allows for MINOR tasks that are ROUTINE, REPETITIVE, and INTEGRAL to the operation of the machinery to be done using ALTERNATIVE SAFETY MEASURES in lieu of Lockout/Tagout (LOTO). These “alternative measures” include using a safety control system (e.g., interlock). But one must read into OSHA’s…...
Minor Servicing Alternative Safety Measures Read More »
Take any of the following steps below that may be necessary to guard against stored energy(s) left in the equipment after it has been shut down and isolated from its energy source(s)…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
De-enerizing Stored Energies Read More »
