We have a machine and this machine has a couple of tasks that have been deemed “minor servicing”. As we walk by we see a worker in the machine and no LOTO in place so of course we stop and ask about the situation. We are told the task being done, “XXXXXXXX”, is indeed a…...
Under most circumstances, where servicing or maintenance is to be conducted during only one shift by a small number of persons, the installation of each individual’s LOTO device on each energy isolation device would not be a burdensome procedure. However, when complex equipment is being serviced or maintained, when there are many sources of energy,…...
Energy Isolation in a chemical process is a “complex LOTO” Read More »
Anyone who has played sports or even just attended a team sporting event has heard or seen the famous saying: There is no “I” in Team! In our world of Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), nothing could be farther from the truth! There is not an act in occupational safety and health that is more self-serving and selfish…...
There is no “I” in LOTO, but there should be! Read More »
Luckily, these kinds of encounters are dwindling, but even mentioning this in 2019 says a lot for the “State of Safety” in the USA. Have you ever encountered a management group where you hoped Dr. Suess would re-write the OSHA LOTO Std? I mean, they hire us to explain and assist in implementing the basic…...
Trust me… famous last words of a safety professional (LOTO application discussion) Read More »
Since I shared my article last week on OSHA’s position of NOT allowing “exclusive control” to be carried over to process valves like we do with “cord and plug” electrical equipment, my international friends and clients have been having quite the chuckle at us here in the USA. They all say virtually the same thing……...
International methods of Energy Isolation (RISK BASED – SG253) Read More »
A 41year old female was fatally injured when she was crushed between a pallet lift and the frame of the machine. The victim was a temporary employee assigned to operate a machine called a pallet de-stacker. The overall process utilizes three stationary conveyor platforms and one conveyor platform fitted with a scissor-style lift (scissor-lift platform)…....
Palletizer LOTO Fatality Read More »
A 41year old female was fatally injured when she was crushed between a pallet lift and the frame of the machine. The victim was a temporary employee assigned to operate a machine called a pallet de-stacker. The overall process utilizes three stationary conveyor platforms and one conveyor platform fitted with a scissor-style lift (scissor-lift platform)…....
Palletizer LOTO Fatality Read More »
At approximately 9:30 p.m. on June 30, 1993, Employee #1, a cleaning contractor, was cleaning up the “cut floor” at a beef facility in Council Bluffs, IA. The facility maintenance employees were removing an ammonia valve from the refrigerant line in the ceiling and had NOT locked or tagged out the isolation valves on the roof. The…...
Failure to LOTO NH3 liquid isolation valve(s) leads to cleaning contractor fatality Read More »
The company retained a contractor to provide industrial cleaning services at the plant. An employee of the cleaning service was working alone, cleaning the area around various injection molding machines. The worker approached the robot cage at an injection molding machine, intending to enter for cleaning purposes. Two robots located inside the cage pick, trim…...
Robots cage, Door interlock, LOTO and cleaning contractor Read More »
OSHA is considering whether to initiate rulemaking to revise its control of hazardous energy standard for general industry. One aim of this RFI is to seek public comment on the modernization of the control of hazardous energy standard without compromising worker safety. OSHA is requesting information from the public on its control of hazardous energy…...
More background on OSHA’s consideration of Control Circuit Devices in lieu of LOTO Read More »
Today, OSHA announced it is requesting information on a possible update to the Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)) standard. The Agency is interested in comments on the use of CONTROL CIRCUIT-TYPE DEVICES to isolate energy, as well as the evolving technology for ROBOTICS. OSHA is requesting information about how employers have been using control circuit…...
Just in case you missed the news today… OSHA will NOT finalize its proposal to remove the word “UNEXPECTED” from the control of hazardous energy (LOTO) standard but will further consider this issue in light of the overall standard. Here is their rationale for this decision at this time… OSHA proposed making changes to subpart J of part 1910—General…...
