On January 20, 2017, Employee #1, 45, was tasked with removing a “Victaulic Blind Flange” on the inlet section of a 400-ton chiller held in place with a split collar. The machine had been idle for over four (4) months as it was winterized, with all electrical connections removed and locked out. The employee began loosening the bolts on the collar… … HomeRead More »...

At 1:00 a.m. on January 19, 2019, Employee #1, 45 years old, employed by a plumbing company, was working at a refinery. He was removing a blind flange in preparation for installing 2-inch piping to a 2-inch line in the MHF Alkylation unit. When the flange was unbolted… … HomeRead More »

At approximately 4:00 a.m. on March 29, 2020, an employee, 30, was installing a full face blind on a flange on a reactor. Then, the probe stem fell inside of the reactor, and the employee tried to fish it out. Using a Jacobs ladder, the employee entered the unprepared reactor that was not cleared for entry because the reactor still contained vinyl chlorine. … HomeRead More »

At 1:30 p.m. on July 24, 2020, two employees were reconnecting two (2) 2″ flanged pipes after cleaning the 4″ header. The employees were beginning to unbolt the blind on the last pipe to reconnect it to the header when… … HomeRead More »

At 1:15 p.m. on November 3, 2020, Employee #1, employed by an HVAC company, was working at a customer’s commercial facility. He was in the process of removing a coupler and blind from the intake header of an air dryer. The employee did not first relieve the air pressure from the header. … HomeRead More »

OSHA answers the following questions regarding maintenance and servicing tasks where Cathodic Protection (CP) rectifiers protect pipes against corrosion. Question 1: Is LOTO of a CP rectifier required when working on a pipeline? Question 2: Is the use of a metallic bonding cable an acceptable practice in lieu of CP rectifier lockout/tagout? Background: Cathodic Protection (CP) rectifiers protect pipes...

Nowadays, most machines/equipment come equipped with a digital HMI screen(s) rather than the old-fashioned “Start/Stop” buttons.  Most see this as an improvement in using technology.  However, for those with “machine specific” LOTO procedures, these HMI screens pose a challenge regarding “verifying ZES” for the electrical energy sources.  In the old...

“Kick Up The Arse” – KUTA principle Here is the rule Comply with the rule Enforce the rule Punish people who don’t comply Put a cop on every beat and police the rule We’ll catch you and watch out. Results? No ownership, limited maturity, and reporting goes “underground.” This thinking drives a “nanny” mindset: power operates rather than influence, people...

OSHA has issued a 2022 LOI discussing the use of Transmitting bulk shipment labels by technological or other means.  In the letter, OSHA addresses the use of QR Codes, which has become a very popular means of conveying information to employees.  Here are the two (2) questions OSHA addresses in its letter: Question 1: Does OSHA have guidance on acceptable methods to transmit labels by “technological...

As we have discussed, the “note and exception” that goes with 1910.147(c)(4)(i) is what I call “simple lockout”; however, I have always stated it was intended for simple electrical lockouts, seeing how one of the hurdles to using the exception was that there could be no “stored energy.”  So, when we look at the eight (8) criteria that must be met in order to...

We can change people’s performance by better training and instructions, better supervision, and, to some extent, better motivation. … HomeRead More »

The leaders of an organization MUST be the drivers of the proverbial “safety vehicle.” They steer and control the acceleration and braking. They also choose where they want the organization to go and enter that info into the vehicle’s GPS. … HomeRead More »