Q&A: Color Coding for LOTO Tags
Is it mandatory that color coding be applied to the lockout/tagout tags for an electric utility provider? Here’s how we answered:
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: Lockout/Tagout Exceptions
Recently, one of our subscribers asked the following question:
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 […]
Q&A: Fall Protection for a Ladder Enclosed in a Cage
Recently, we received the following question from a subscriber: I need to install a 30-foot fixed ladder as a secondary egress point for an underground pump station. There are two intermediary levels where a step-off will be required. What type of fall protection would be required if I enclose the ladder in a cage?
Forklift Safety: How to Prevent Distracted Driving and Eliminate Hazards
Forklift Safety When used properly, forklifts can help workers accomplish tasks more efficiently and safely, but when unsafely operated, potentially catastrophic incidents can outweigh their benefits. Safety managers have an additional hurdle to overcome to ensure forklift safety: forklift operators and nearby pedestrians may be distracted by their cell phones or other mobile devices, and […]
