Information regarding OSHA Minor Servicing while working in General Industry. The OSHA standard states: 1910.147(a)(2)(ii)(B)An employee is required to place any part of their body into an area on a machine or piece of equipment where work is performed upon the material being processed (point of operation) or where an associated danger zone exists during…...
One thing that many find confusing regarding the control of hazardous energy is the actual hazard they are trying to render to a Zero Energy State (ZES). This is a simple concept, but many get it wrong in their programs and machine-specific procedures. Let’s take compressed air as an example. Many compressed air systems in…...
Lockout is a life-critical program/process/procedure(s). Our efforts to VERIFY that the program/process/procedures meet our needs is a CRITICAL path in the LOTO process. OSHA recognized this when it promulgated its Control of Hazardous Energy standard (1910.147). Specifically, 1910.147(c)(6) “Periodic Inspections” requires the employer to verify the program/procedures and that the employees can properly apply them…...
Periodic Inspections should be SIMPLE and straightforward Read More »
This is a HIGH-LEVEL overview of the many types and levels of energy isolation means and methods. This is not widely recognized in the USA, but those businesses advanced in energy isolation/control plans use this approach. The key to this success is to incorporate these methods into process designs. Members can download…...
Energy Isolation Methods: Positive – Proved – Non-Proved Read More »
NOTE: I totally disagree with this ALJ decision; however, I give him much credit as I listened to the witnesses and followed the evidence he had presented. This amputation injury was a LOTO violation in my eyes, and I would have argued this case differently. But here are the facts presented to the Judge: what…...
In the year 2023, we still get the old questioning of the intent of LOTO. It never fails; in our LOTO training, we will get operators repeating the application of LOTO to their jobs, word for word, as I have stated it, and then comes the $60,000 question… Does my boss know about this? Another…...
Management should make LOTO easy and efficient Read More »
A cleaning crew member, with no electrical qualifications, switched on a high voltage (2200V 3Ph) electrical switch for a piece of equipment after it had been locked out. The worker’s hand was burnt by escaping arc gasses and flames coming through a damaged door gasket. The equipment has a 2100-volt ac synchronous motor that is…...
Hazards of returning machinery to operation after LOTO Read More »
Without a doubt, the biggest LOTO failure for businesses with a LOTO program is the application of the “minor servicing” exception. (emphasis by me) 1910.147(a)(2)(i) This standard applies to the control of energy during servicing and/or maintenance of machines and equipment.1910.147(a)(2)(ii) Normal production operations are not covered by this standard (See subpart 0 of this…...
Evaluating the application of and the controls associated with “minor servicing” Read More »
I promise you; these are written in the blood of many who have perished – THEY ARE LOTO FACTS, and they are not wrong. If employers could grasp these simple facts, many limbs and lives could be saved yearly. The standard is called “The Control of Hazardous Energy”. It is NOT Lockout AND Tagout; it…...
I say this every year, and I get told I am wrong… (LOTO) Read More »
On January 20, 2017, Employee #1, 45, was tasked with removing a “Victaulic Blind Flange” on the inlet section of a 400-ton chiller held in place with a split collar. The machine had been idle for over four (4) months as it was winterized, with all electrical connections removed and locked out. The employee began…...
Verifying ZES is CRITICAL before opening “idled” systems (Reaccumulated Stored Energy) Read More »
At 1:30 p.m. on July 24, 2020, two employees were reconnecting two (2) 2″ flanged pipes after cleaning the 4″ header. The employees were beginning to unbolt the blind on the last pipe to reconnect it to the header when…… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member?...
Pulling blinds/blanks is a “line opening” task (Silicon Tetrachloride) Read More »
At 1:15 p.m. on November 3, 2020, Employee #1, employed by an HVAC company, was working at a customer’s commercial facility. He was in the process of removing a coupler and blind from the intake header of an air dryer. The employee did not first relieve the air pressure from the header…. Membership Required You...
Pulling blinds/blanks is a “line opening” task (compressed air dryer) Read More »
