Many folks will focus on ONLY three (3) criteria for applying this “exception” to OSHA LOTO standard 1910.147. And these (3) criteria are just opening the gates to LOTO Hell. Far too often we find the “exception” has become the rule and LOTO has become the exception. So what are the FIVE (5) criteria we…...
I have written dozens of articles around these “safety myths”, but Jonathan Zimmerman and I were not selected to present this at ASSP several years ago so I thought I would share it as a series here. These are topics that I still get challenged on in 2024/2025 and often I am unable to convince…...
By: Victor Dearman Jr. CIRO, CRST Flagging tape is not LOTO! And never has been. I would bet good money the operating procedure for this compressor has LOTO covered, but those are just documents to look good in a binder sitting on a shelf collecting dust because they are viewed as a necessary evil to…...
We have discussed this many times: far too many employees fail to recognize the proper application of “pounds per square inch” (PSI). In my LOTO training, I spend 15 minutes explaining that even 1.0 PSI can be lethal. This case was brought about by poor planning and a LOTO failure, but it shows that even…...
On April 10, 2024, an employee, 30, working as a quality inspector for a sewing, needlework, and piece goods manufacturer, was performing the rolling process, which she completed by approximately 11:00 a.m. After completing some housekeeping, the employee pressed the light curtain bypass button located on the fence of the HAAS machine on the alley…...
We hear these horror stories every year… a worker climbs inside a hazard area of a large piece of machinery WITHOUT the aid of LOTO, and another worker comes along and turns on the machine, as he/she was unaware of their co-worker being inside the machine. These incidents are TRAGIC for so many people, all…...
This is a MUST READ for safety professionals engaged in developing, implementing, and managing a LOTO program. The facility was doing everything RIGHT in terms of program, procedures, and training; yet a worker violated LOTO in the presence of the Shift Supervisor who had only been in his role for 1-month. The OSHRC laid out…...
I will probably catch a lot of flack for repeating this (as I have this debate at least annually), as very few agree with me, but it needs to be repeated! The use of a Lockout Hasp, the device shown to the left, is NOT associated with the phrase “group lockout.” And yes, I am…...
Back in 2017, we discussed the hazards associated with dock levelers and working under the dock plate. These are indeed permit-required confined spaces, albeit ones that can be RECLASSIFIED using basic energy control methods (i.e., Lockout). In that 2017 article, I shared a video from a dock leveler manufacturer on how to isolate the dock…...
On March 18, 2024, @ 11:00 a.m., it appears that Employee #1, 32, was standing under the raised forks of a forklift truck. The forks/backrest assembly appeared to have fallen onto Employee #1. Employee #1 died due to decapitation…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log...
On March 8, 2024, @ 4:50 p.m., an employee, 32, entered a unitizer (pallet stacker) machine when it engaged, crushing him. The employee was killed. CLICK HERE to see the video of the machine involved Company removed guards, failed to ensure power shutoff with workers nearby Both management and workers told inspectors that the permanent…...
On February 6, 2024, at 10:00 p.m., an employee, 26, was repairing leaking water on pump equipment without lockout/tagout. While the engine was on, the employee began to unscrew a high-pressure valve nipple. The pressure was not released from the valve, causing it to blow off and strike the employee in the head and chest…....
