As we have discussed before, energy isolation in a process is VERY DIFFERENT than energy isolation in a manufacturing plant. And the work we do as part of achieving a Zero Energy State (ZES) is the evacuation of hazardous energy. And man, have I seen some hockey setups to evacuate serious hazardous materials! Here is a “hockey” set up involving a flammable petroleum product. What is described in this OSHA accident report is very similar to what we see in our travels…
A group of workers were cleaning out a petroleum product pipe system by dispensing material in the pipes into a 10,000 gallon steel skid tank by way of a flexible rubber hose. The 4-inch flexible hose entered the tank through an 8-inch hole. It was tied or secured using grass rope. The flexible hose was jerking and freed from its securing point. Employee #1, who was on top of the tank, got hold of the hose and put it back in the tank.