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 […]
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
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).
The 2008 revisions to the LOTO Compliance Directive (CPL 02-00-147) did a great service in advancing a 30+ year-old standard in an area that badly needed clarification: Periodic Inspections under 1910.147(c)(6). I am sure there will be folks who will dissect this, looking for every “out” they can find to not do these safety-critical audits,
A bakery company and three company directors have been fined £373,000 after two (2) workers (43 and 47) died inside a bread oven. The men were carrying out maintenance work when they became trapped inside the 70′ long conveyor oven, where temperatures were above 100°C (212°F). They died from burns and heat exposure after being
