A 57-year-old supervisor was killed while trying to determine why hydraulic oil was leaking from a cotton press machine. The press consists of a hydraulic pusher, tramper and bailer. The pusher and tramper sit on an elevated platform accessed by stairs; the bailers and operator console are located on the lower level. The cotton is…...
Over the last several years the SAFTENG team has been seeing some interesting concepts when it comes to Lockout/Tagout applications and methods. I want to air these out and get some dialogue started so that everyone can understand the errors of these myths…… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership...
OSHA has cited a bottling business with 12 alleged safety violations following the death of a 21-year-old temporary worker on his first day on the job. He was crushed to death by a palletizer machine at the Jacksonville facility in August 2012. The company uses a temporary staffing service to provide laborers for certain jobs…....
This week OSHA issued citations to a steel mill involving Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) and the one citation that caught my eye revolved around a “group lockbox” situation. The citation reads “On and before 6/18/2012, the employer did not ensure that authorized employees used a personal lockout device to lock the group lockout box. Each authorized employee had…...
Last year, we came across a very interesting LOTO practice that we completely disagreed with, but we were the only ones in the room who were not in agreement, so I think we may need to be “calibrated” in our LOTO expectations! I am not saying I will ever agree with this practice at a…...
Recently, I spent some time with a new (and unlisted) client who experienced a severe LOTO accident, resulting in a severe injury to an employee. I was asked to review their programs and practices related to the control of hazardous energy (e.g., LOTO). Everything looked good until we got to the “periodic inspection” requirement. As…...
Some of you may recognize these suggestions, but for those unfamiliar with them, I will wait and surprise you at the end of this article to find out where these “suggestions” came from! Nonetheless, any workplace utilizing Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) should consider implementing these into their existing program. For those in the General Industry, many facilities…...
So this week my good friend “Jim” and I were talking about an “accepted practice” that has grown into an “industry practice” and how OSHA has definitely drawn the line on the “cord and plug” LOTO practice such that it does NOT include valves. This “practice” involves the concept of defining “exclusive control of an energy isolating…...
OSHA has cited a manufacturing plant for four safety violations, including a repeat violation for failing to protect workers by locking out the energy sources of presses at its facility, following an inspection that began in October 2011. The company manufactures automotive parts using hot and cold forging methods. Proposed fines total $51,000…. Membership Required You...
That is a foot jammed between the head pulley and the belt!!! Members can click on “Read More” below for the full story and additional photos. These photos were sent in by a member, who also told his story:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member?...
This is always a good discussion during our audits and training, and one where my team and I feel OSHA is technically wrong in their standard. Let me explain…… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
The IRSST has recently published a technical data sheet that provides companies with a means of verifying the content of a lockout program. Lockout is defined as placing a lock or tag on an energy-isolating device following an established procedure, indicating that the energy-isolating device is not to be operated until the removal of the…...
