Be Aware of Lockout / Tagout

 

Overview

OSHA statistics show that six percent of all deaths in the workplace result from the unexpected activation of a machine or other piece of equipment during maintenance or other servicing. In addition, more than 25,000 work days are lost each year because of injuries in similar situations.

OSHA’s Lockout/Tagout regulation, 29 CFR 1910.147, requires employers to develop procedures for isolating energy sources when servicing or maintaining their equipment and machinery. The purpose of the standard is to prevent injuries from the unexpected release of energy.

Understanding Lockout/Tagout

Lockout/tagout is a warning and prevention system for unexpected start-up and release of stored energy.

Two terms which directly relate to this system are:

·         Lockout - The placement of a device that blocks the flow of energy from a power source to a piece of equipment.

·         Tagout - The process of attaching a tag to a disconnect switch or other energy isolating device to warn others not to restore energy to the tagged equipment.

When performing lockout/tagout on equipment and machines, the operators and the people working in the area need to be informed that lockout/tagout is being applied and servicing is being done on the equipment and machines.

When locking out the energy source is impossible, tagging the equipment may be the best procedure you can do.

Who is involved?

Lockout/tagout involves three types of employees with different levels of responsibility - authorized, affected, and other.

·         Authorized - Employees who perform the servicing, maintenance, and set-up of equipment or machinery and apply the locks and tags to this equipment.

·         Affected - Employees who operate or use the equipment or machines which are locked/tagged out when serviced, maintained, or set-up.

·         Other - Employees whose work operations are or may be in an area where energy control procedures may be utilized (they are neither affected nor authorized employees).

Lockout/Tagout Procedures

Each piece of equipment or machine needs its own lockout/tagout procedure. The procedure must include:

·         Preparing for shutdown.

·         Shutting down the machine or equipment.

·         Isolating the machine or equipment from the energy source.

·         Applying the lockout/tagout device to the energy-isolating equipment.

·         Verifying the isolation of the machines or equipment prior to starting work.

·         Releasing all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy.

The procedure should include the steps for placement, removal, and transfer of lockout/tagout devices.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com

Engineering Controls-exposure to lead.

 

Engineering controls and good work practices are the major defense against employee expo­sure to lead.

When feasible engineering controls and work practices cannot reduce worker exposure to lead at or below the permissible exposure level (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air averaged over 8-hours, respirators must be used to supplement the engineering controls and work practices.

Engineering controls

Engineering controls reduce employee exposure either by remov­ing or isolating the hazard, or isolating the worker from exposure through the use of technol­ogy. Engineering measures could include:

·         Exhaust ventilation such as dust collection shrouds exhausted through a high-effi­ciency particulate air (HEPA) vacuum system.

·         For abrasive blasting with full containment, the containment structure should be designed to optimize ventilation flow thereby reducing the lead concentration and improve visibility.

·         Enclosure/encapsulation is an engineering alternative. Lead-based paint can be made inaccessible by: (1) encapsulation with a material that bonds to the surface, (2) enclosing the paint using systems such as gypsum wallboard or plywood panelling, and (3) cover­ing floors coated with lead-based paint using vinyl tile or linoleum flooring.

·         Material substitution can include:

·            using primers that contain zinc.

·            using mobile hydraulic shears instead of torch cutting.

·            using surface preparation equipment, such as needle guns with multiple reciprocating nee­dles completely enclosed within an adjustable shroud.

·            using chemical strippers instead of hand scraping using a heat gun.

·         Component replacement is a permanent solution, i.e., replacing lead-based painted windows, doors, and trim with new lead-free components.

·         Process/equipment modification could include:

·            brush or roller application of lead paints instead of spraying.

·            hydro- or wet-blasting and vacuum blasting (blasting tech­niques that are less dusty than abrasive blasting).

·            using proper vacuum brushes of various sizes, crevice and angular tools, to enhance the quality of the HEPA-vacuum­ing process.

·         Isolation helps reduce the potential for exposure to lead. Keeping employees not involved in the operations as far away as possible reduces their exposures to lead.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com

Stairways and Ladders

 

Stairways and ladders are a major source of injuries and fatalities for construction workers. OSHA estimates that there are 24,882 injuries and as many as 36 fatalities each year due to falls from stairways and ladders. Nearly half of these injuries are serious enough to require time off the job.

The OSHA rules specify when stairways and ladders must be provided. The rules do not apply to ladders that are specifically manufactured for getting to and from scaffold working platforms, but do apply to job-made and manufactured portable ladders intended for general purpose use and which are then used for scaffold ladders.

#1 Ladder use—When portable ladders are used to get to an upper surface, the ladder side rails must extend at least 3 feet above the upper landing surface. If this is not possible because of the ladder’s length, it must be secured at the top to a rigid support and a grasping device, such as a grabrail, must be provided to assist in getting on and off the ladder.

The extension must never be so short that ladder deflection under a load will cause it to slip off its support.

#2 Stairrails and handrails—Stairways having 4 or more risers or rising more than 30 inches, whichever is less, must be equipped with: (1) at least one handrail, and (2) one stairrail system along each unprotected side or edge.

When the top edge of a stairrail system also serves as a handrail, the top edge must not be more than 37 inches nor less than 36 inches from the upper surface of the stairrail to the surface of the tread, in line with the face of the riser at the forward edge of the tread.

#3 Ladders must only be used for the purpose for which they were designed—§1926.1053(b)(4)

#4 Access points—A stairway or ladder must be provided at all employee points of access where there is a break in elevation of 19 inches or more and no ramp, runway, sloped embankment, or personnel hoist is provided.

#5 Training—As necessary, your employer must provide a training program for employees that use ladders and stairways. The program must enable you to recognize hazards related to ladders and stairways and must train you in the procedures to be followed to minimize those hazards.

You must be trained by your company’s competent person.

 This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com