One of the most abused practices involving LOTO is the “myth” that LOTO does not apply when the “energy source” is “under the control of and within line-of-sight of the person performing the activity.” As OSHA points out in this 2007 LOI, this is not necessarily the case:
OSHA’s standard for the Control of Hazardous Energy allows us three (3) means in which we can identify our Lockout locks: 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(B) Standardized. Lockout and tagout devices shall be standardized within the facility in at least one of the following criteria: Color; shape; or size; and additionally, in the case of tagout devices, print and format
Almost all of the recognized codes and standards related to the storage of flammable liquids will reference an Underwriters’ Laboratories construction standard, No. 142, Standard for Steel Aboveground Tanks for Flammable and Combustible Liquids. Those recognized codes and standards include OSHA’s 1910.106, Flammable liquids and the International Fire Code (IFC). The IFC does not directly
A worker was pressure washing and vacuuming solids from a hydrocarbon storage tank when an explosion occurred within the container. The blast tore off the tank’s roof and forcibly threw the worker away from the tank. The worker was seriously injured. Static electricity may have ignited flammable gases and vapors. CLICK HERE for this Safety
Recently I came across another real-life example of a “change to facilities that affect a covered process” that was missed in the MOC process and created a significant hazard to the flammable liquids processing area. The change was a new pallet-jack for the process area, and when it came time to purchase the new one,
Another incident at a fuel pump where the customer exited their vehicle while the gasoline was flowing and reached for the nozzle, only to ignite the vapors exiting the tank via their static electricity. The customer then made another critical error by removing the nozzle and spreading the fire. It certainly looks as if the
A traffic accident around 4 p.m. involving a gasoline tanker truck and an SUV in Mobile, AL on 4/22/2018 led to a massive fire. Firefighters evacuated a two-block radius of homes and businesses. It took more than an hour before firefighters could extinguish the flames by spraying large amounts of water and foam to the
As the popularity of “reclassifying PRCSs” continues to grow, so do the myths and lies about how this entry method applies and how it gets implemented. OSHA did provide some more clarification in their newest PRCS Standard for Construction, which I will use to explain the process of “reclassifying a PRCS to a non-Permit confined
This tank fire incident is a MUST READ for all SAFTENG members who are in process safety and industrial safety who manage bulk tanks containing hazardous materials. The learnings from this incident investigation are too many to mention, but the investigation got into: Corporate Strategy and Commitment to Safety & Operational Excellence Contractors Engagement Training
PLEASE NOTE: this is NOT a complete listing of the incident since 4/1/18; however, I have been distracted by some punk fool who is trying to hack my site! Once I win this battle, I will update this listing. Industrial LOTO/GUARDING FATALITY UPDATE: Utah man killed in an industrial accident identified (worker, 38, died after
