Category: Equipment and Machinery Safety

Q&A: Pedestrian Travel Paths

Recently, one of our subscribers asked the following question: For pedestrian safety, how wide does a designated protected employee travel path need to be? What type of stationary protective guards are acceptable to prevent forklifts from hitting pedestrians?

Crane Accidents Are Preventable. Are You Checking All the Boxes?

In 2014, OSHA extended the deadline for crane operator certification for three years, to November 10, 2017. Until then, OSHA says it will “consider addressing operator qualifications through additional rulemaking.” Meanwhile, employees continue to suffer when employers fail to provide adequate protection. Learn more here.

You Have the Power to Prevent Lockout/Tagout Injuries

Every year, between 150 and 200 fatalities and some 50,000 injuries occur due to failure to control the release of hazardous energy. Lockout/tagout (LOTO) refers to the OSHA-required practices and procedures to protect workers from unexpected start-up of machinery or hazardous energy released during service or maintenance.

Tips for Avoiding OSHA Lockout/Tagout Citations

What gets employers into LOTO trouble with OSHA? Attorney Nickole Winnett, shareholder in the Washington, D.C., office of Jackson Lewis, points to a number of culprits, including failing to ensure that energy control procedures have been developed, documented, and are in use for each piece of equipment where servicing and maintenance occur.

Q&A: Transferring Locks Between Shifts

Recently, one of our subscribers asked the following question: I am looking for guidance on developing a lockout program where I can protect my employees from disassembled equipment while transferring the locks without having a physical hand off. Our second shift must leave equipment disassembled and locked out at midnight when they go home. We […]