In 2026, cutting and pasting OSHA standards and revising a few words does NOT make for a safety program/safe work practice. Yet already this year, I have seen two LOTO programs that state Lockout and tagout devices shall be standardized within the facility in at least one of the following criteria: Color; shape; or size;…...
Several years back, I worked with an organization that had an in-house Operational Testing program with a really catchy name. I actually loved the name, but as I learned more about the process, it was simply a catchy name for a very bad process. It was an attempt by a business to have BOTH a…...
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The Safety Champions Program is a new initiative that helps employers develop and implement effective safety and health programs. The main goal of safety and health programs is to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths. The Program incorporates the seven (7) core elements of Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs: The Safety Champion Program…...
An SMS needs a feedback loop! The data from that feedback loop needs to be VERIFIED and VALIDATED as accurate BEFORE it is used to make decisions within the SMS. Just imagine driving your vehicle with NO FEEDBACK. No speedometer, no engine temp, no blinker feedback, no RPMs, NOTHING. You’re just driving, maybe relying on…...
I am not a fan of “government”, but I am a fan of so many of the workers within our government. They can do some fantastic work. Take this latest and greatest tool for Chemical Safety, for example. This is just too “cool,” and if you are into HAZMATs or Chemical Safety, this is a…...
Imagine driving a vehicle without a dashboard. No feedback whatsoever as to how well you and the vehicle are performing. Sure, we can do it, but without feedback on our performance and the vehicle’s, I doubt we’d meet the state’s defined and quantified standards for “safe operation of a motor vehicle.” Just consider speed as…...
It has taken me 20 years to truly understand what Clive Lloyd said in his book “From Compliance to Care.” One of my top five safety books I recommend for every safety professional and front-line manager. “Behaviors are NOT the problem – they are expressions of the problem.” I have conducted over 100 safety assessments…...
Most of us who were adults in the 2000s can recall some silly claims made by “Infomercials.” You know… “The Juicer,” the “no-stick pan,” the “Snuggie,” the knives that slice a beer can and tomatoes, the “Shamwow” towel, and the list goes on and on. Oh man, could they make the product seem as if…...
An arc flash incident occurred during electrical maintenance activities on a 480V motor control center (MCC) aboard a fixed offshore facility in the Gulf of America on March 21, 2025. Two contractor technicians were troubleshooting a tripped MCC bucket Figure 2) when an arc flash occurred. One technician, despite wearing Category 2 arc-rated Personal Protective…...
Last year, I shared Part I regarding the difference between the two words: Audit and Inspection. Today, I want to explain how and why OSHA/EPA “inspect” and we “audit” our PSM/RMP-covered processes. To put it bluntly, an OSHA/EPA “inspection” does NOT and will NEVER replace our 3-year PSM/RMP audits. Both EPA and OSHA require RMP/PSM-covered…...
