Lockout Tagout

OSHA answers the question… Will a metallic bonding cable be acceptable means of protection vs LOTO when working on Cathodic Protection systems on piping?

OSHA answers the following questions regarding maintenance and servicing tasks where Cathodic Protection (CP) rectifiers protect pipes against corrosion. Question 1: Is LOTO of a CP rectifier required when working on a pipeline? Question 2: Is the use of a metallic bonding cable an acceptable practice in lieu of CP rectifier lockout/tagout? Background: Cathodic Protection…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

OSHA answers the question… Will a metallic bonding cable be acceptable means of protection vs LOTO when working on Cathodic Protection systems on piping? Read More »

HMI screens and “means to verify ZES” for electrical source(s)

Nowadays, most machines/equipment come equipped with a digital HMI screen(s) rather than the old-fashioned “Start/Stop” buttons.  Most see this as an improvement in using technology.  However, for those with “machine specific” LOTO procedures, these HMI screens pose a challenge regarding “verifying ZES” for the electrical energy sources.  In the old days, we returned to the…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

HMI screens and “means to verify ZES” for electrical source(s) Read More »

Can 1910.147(c)(4)(i) be applied to compressed air?

As we have discussed, the “note and exception” that goes with 1910.147(c)(4)(i) is what I call “simple lockout”; however, I have always stated it was intended for simple electrical lockouts, seeing how one of the hurdles to using the exception was that there could be no “stored energy.”  So, when we look at the eight…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Can 1910.147(c)(4)(i) be applied to compressed air? Read More »

Bleeding stored energy can create hazards

Once we get to the place where we can agree that fluids and gases are “stored energy” and that those “stored energies” have to be bled/drained to achieve a Zero Energy State (ZES), we can then discuss the potential hazards these necessary actions can create.   I have written a lot about using 1/4 turn ball…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Bleeding stored energy can create hazards Read More »

When does a fluid become a hazard?

Last month, I wrote Before we can achieve a ZES, we must first define and quantify what precisely a form of “hazardous energy” is, and this week, I posted the MSHA accident investigation report where water in an abandoned chilled water system 1600′ underground was opened and the water, pressurized by the head pressure alone,…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

When does a fluid become a hazard? Read More »

Verifying ZES requires SPECIFIC procedure(s)

I can remember our first attempt at writing SOPs for our PSM covered process(s): Deviation is “High Pressure” in V-1 Steps to Correct “High Pressure”: 1) Lower Pressure Sound familiar?  We chuckle now, but in the early 1990’s we thought this was the intent.  We still find this kind of PSM/RMP SOP in 2023; however,…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Verifying ZES requires SPECIFIC procedure(s) Read More »

When gravity and water work together to become a “hazardous form of energy”

From MSHA accident file…                     The two (10) ten-inch metal pipes being removed were part of a closed-loop chiller system that had been abandoned. One pipe supplied chilled water underground (supply and shown as blue in the drawing), and the other returned water to the surface…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

When gravity and water work together to become a “hazardous form of energy” Read More »

LOTO, “Energy From More Than One Source”, and critical labeling

We are seeing more and more of this type of set-up, where an auxiliary piece of equipment on an assembly/production line has two (2) electrical supplies.  One is from the main SWITCH on the line, and one is from a separate source.  This is usually done when the auxiliary equipment may need to stay energized…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

LOTO, “Energy From More Than One Source”, and critical labeling Read More »

In a mature LOTO program, “SCOPE of WORK” matters

Most facilities will have a few pieces of equipment that require using a dozen or more energy isolation devices to achieve a full LO’ed situation.  Most businesses, at least early on in their implementation of LOTO for these pieces of equipment, will state ALL energy isolation devices will be utilized regardless of the scope of…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

In a mature LOTO program, “SCOPE of WORK” matters Read More »

Motor disconnect vs. Main disconnect

Have you ever seen a setup on a machine, typically those manufactured outside of the USA, with two (2) electrical disconnects?  Most of the time, these disconnects are COLOR-CODED to clearly identify their different uses, although we have seen some that were NOT color-coded, nor were they properly labeled!  Here is an example of what…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Motor disconnect vs. Main disconnect Read More »

How electrical standards play a role in LOTO practices

Whenever we talk about OSHA’s Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) standard, we almost always have to talk about its machine guarding and electrical standards.  One crucial requirement in OSHA’s electrical standards, as it relates directly back to LOTO, is … (emphasis by me)… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member?...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

How electrical standards play a role in LOTO practices Read More »

Before we can achieve a ZES, we must first define and quantify what precisely a form of “hazardous energy” is

I don’t think many safety pros would argue with this statement:  LOTO requires that all forms of hazardous energy be taken to a ZES before servicing and maintenance begin. But I have had many discussions about DEFINING and QUANTIFYING what a “hazardous form of energy” is.  Since OSHA has not quantified the term “hazardous energy”,…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Before we can achieve a ZES, we must first define and quantify what precisely a form of “hazardous energy” is Read More »

Scroll to Top