For years, I have advised my clients to use the ANSI/ASSE Z590.2 standard when building their Safety Management System (SMS), as it provides a clear-cut model for the Scope and Function of the safety professional’s role within an organization.  Members can read the following two articles on how this can be done. Establishing the scope, function, role(s), and responsibilities of the organization’s...

A cleaning crew member, with no electrical qualifications, switched on a high voltage (2200V 3Ph) electrical switch for a piece of equipment after it had been locked out. The worker’s hand was burnt by escaping arc gasses and flames coming through a damaged door gasket. The equipment has a 2100-volt ac synchronous motor that is used for power factor correction. Power factor correction is used to limit...

Voltage tests were being performed in a bucket of the MCC with a multi-meter that had the test lead connected to the amperage port and an underrated fuse. When connected to the 600-volt source, the multi-meter shorted, leading to an arc flash. The arc flash caused burns to the face and hands and pushed the worker back, landing on their knees. The MCC has arc flash and shock hazard warning labels that...

In a food processing facility, an employee moved a pallet from an upper storage rack using a forklift when the forks were lifted too high and contacted the roofing panel near an ammonia line. The roofing panel pushed up, bending the liquid ammonia refrigeration line. A two-bolt flange connection was strained, causing an uncontrolled leak past the sealing gaskets of the flange. The building was evacuated,...

Without a doubt, the biggest LOTO failure for businesses with a LOTO program is the application of the “minor servicing” exception.  (emphasis by me) 1910.147(a)(2)(i) This standard applies to the control of energy during servicing and/or maintenance of machines and equipment.1910.147(a)(2)(ii) Normal production operations are not covered by this standard (See subpart 0 of this part)....

I promise you; these are written in the blood of many who have perished – THEY ARE LOTO FACTS, and they are not wrong.  If employers could grasp these simple facts, many limbs and lives could be saved yearly. The standard is called “The Control of Hazardous Energy”.  It is NOT Lockout AND Tagout; it is either – or. LOTO applies ANYTIME a worker has to REMOVE a guard,...

Those in the USA have dealt with OSHA’s Process Safety Management Standard since 1992 and EPA’s Risk Management Plan since 1999.  And although these standards established a well-needed MINIMUM performance criteria, they missed the market in what we come to expect in a proper performance-oriented standard.  OUr friends to the North have been using an ANSI standard (CSA Z767) that...

The Process Safety Fundamentals (PSFs) are straightforward, doable best practices designed to raise awareness of process safety and spark conversations in the field. The PSFs can often be fully satisfied, but when they can’t, it’s essential to pause and hold a meaningful conversation with the team, supervisor, and support personnel to figure out a different, safe way to finish the job....

Did you know there is actually some logic behind OSHA and NFPA’s Hot Work Permitting process?  This means that even before we issue a HW Permit, we have to walk through this logic.  In essence, if we can do the work WITHOUT having to perform HW; then by all means, we do the work without having to do HW!  Even if it means we move the object we want to weld/cut to an area designated...

It is important to note that preventive actions are not entirely the same for the different risk categories (minor, serious, or major): organizational failures generally play a much greater role in serious accidents than minor accidents. Indeed, a serious event usually implies the systemic failure of many barriers. The prevention of major accident hazards should, therefore, never be based on actions...

It is important to note that preventive actions are not entirely the same for the different risk categories (minor, serious, or major): organizational failures generally play a much greater role in serious accidents than minor accidents. Indeed, a serious event usually implies the systemic failure of many barriers. The prevention of major accident hazards should, therefore, never be based on actions...

In recent months we have seen some reductions in workforce across several clients.  Some of these clients are very mature in their approach to safety management, and others are not quite there yet.  In those businesses with a mature Safety Management System (SMS), one of these facilities is NOT a PSM/RMP facility – but they have a MOC process that they utilize effectively. The others...