Safety Info Posts – Page 354 – Safety Engineering (SAFTENG)

Using the “energy isolation plan” worksheet to meet specific LOTO procedures

February 11, 2018 / Free, Lockout Tagout / Bryan Haywood

OSHA’s Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) standard is pretty clear… ALL servicing and maintenance activities that require the control of hazardous energy require a machine/equipment-specific written procedure. (e.g. 1910.147(c)(4) 1910.147(c)(4)(i) Procedures shall be developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees are engaged in the activities covered by this section. So does this […]

42 Incidents (1/29 – 2/10/2018)

February 10, 2018 / Free, Incident Alerts (2011 - 2018) / Bryan Haywood

Industrial LOTO FATALITYHawkins worker killed at MIS Inc. plant in Phipps Bend (worker, 34, was killed after getting stuck in a large piece of equipment while reportedly trying to dislodge a part that had gotten stuck – as soon as the part was dislodged, the door closed on the worker – death would have been

Documenting the “isolation” of a Permit-Required Confined Space

February 10, 2018 / Chemical Process Safety (PSM/RMP), Free, Lockout Tagout, OSHA Compliance, Safety Management System / Bryan Haywood

To continue with my series of LOTO articles this month, I want to discuss how 1910.147 plays into our efforts to enter a Permit-Required Confined Space (PRCS). Way too many PRCS entry permits have the basic check-the-box statement “All energy sources isolated – YES/NO.” What the heck is that supposed to meet? Do our “machine

Is a “Lockout device” more than a Lockout Lock?

February 10, 2018 / Free, Lockout Tagout / Bryan Haywood

As the debate continues about using “clamshells” as a lockout device, our behind-the-scenes discussions continue regarding OSHA’s use of the term “Substantial”. The discussion was so good I asked if I could summarize and post it to keep the discussions going. So once again, here is OSHA’s definition of a “Lockout device”: A device that

2018 Photo of the Week #7 (Hot Work Permit…who needs ’em?)

February 10, 2018 / Free, Photo of the Week / Bryan Haywood

2018 Video of the Week #7 (Baseball Cap is NOT Hot Work PPE)

February 10, 2018 / Free, Video of the Week / Bryan Haywood

Wearing a baseball cap while performing hot work may make you look cool, but just watch this video and we can see what OSHA was trying to prevent with… 1910.252(b)(3) Protective clothing General requirements Employees exposed to the hazards created by welding, cutting, or brazing operations shall be protected by personal protective equipment in accordance with the requirements of

OSHA’s General Duty Clause and RV’s “discharging to a safe location”

February 8, 2018 / Chemical Process Safety (PSM/RMP), Free / Bryan Haywood

Anyone who has worked with ASME/API pressure vessel codes knows the basic language used to describe Relief Valve (RV) discharge locations… “discharge to a safe location”. This requirement applies to ALL relief devices on all types of equipment and although OSHA does not have a specific standard on relief devices and their design, they will use

Chemical Processes, LOTO, and three (3) program buckets (Simple, Traditional, Complex)

February 8, 2018 / Free, Lockout Tagout / Bryan Haywood

Way back in April 2016, the OSHRC published a decision that settled the argument about LOTO procedures for “specific equipment/machines” and what they must contain. This important decision helped settle a lot of scuttlebutt about how LOTO gets managed in “complex” situations. I like to explain to clients that LOTO in a chemical process is

Process Safety Training – April 2-6, 2018

February 7, 2018 / Chemical Process Safety (PSM/RMP), Free / Bryan Haywood

A local client has requested another 40-hr Process Safety Management course and we have scheduled it for the first week of April 2018. The course will be at: Sugar Creek Packing Company 2600 N James H McGee Blvd Dayton, OH 45417 NOTE: this is the same location that held the “Safety for PSM/RMP Managers” course. Time:

EPA RMP citations @ winery (NH3, with 284 pound release; $330K)

February 7, 2018 / Free, PSM and RMP Citations/Analysis / Bryan Haywood

On September 11, 2012, a Facility experienced a 284-pound release of anhydrous ammonia from its ammonia refrigeration system. The incident occurred when a worker attempted to defrost an ammonia chiller and opened the oil valve instead of the hot gas valve, causing ammonia to release into the environment. As a result of the release, an

Safety culture or an amazingly obident workforce?

February 5, 2018 / Free, Safety Management System / Bryan Haywood

We hear the phrase “safety culture” being tossed around in today’s management like it is some measurable object or goal. This, in its own right, shows the vast lack of understanding of what a safety culture is. My first boss, who I will always praise, was all about his employees. He wanted the very best

2018 Video of the Week #6 (Unsafe Behaviors are now a “team building” activity)

February 5, 2018 / Free, Video of the Week / Bryan Haywood

Just when we think we have seen the limits of human unsafe behaviors, we are reminded that humans are capable of reaching new heights of UNSAFE behaviors when they work as a team!