Hazards energy control

Workers may be exposed to hazardous energy in several forms and combinations during installation, maintenance, service, or repair work. A comprehensive hazardous energy control program should address all forms of hazardous energy including... 

Permit-required confined space entry Excavation and Trenches Hazardous energy control (electrical Safety Hot work... 

Do the lockout/tagout procedures clearly outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy and the means of enforcing compliance [OSHA Reference. 147(c)(4)(ii)]... 

Specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy ... 

Most or the incidents described were the result or not rollowing good engineering practice. Some violated the law, and many more would if they occurred today. In the United States, they would violate OSHA 1910.147 (1990) on The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lock Out/Tag Out) and the Process Safety Management (PSM) Law (OSHA 1910.119, in force since 1992). which applies to listed chemicals above a threshold quantity. The PSM Law requires companies to follow good engineering practice, codes, industry consensus standards, and even the company s owm standards. OSHA could view failure to follow any of these as violations. 

Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout Tagout), 29 CFR 1910.147, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Sept. 1, 1989. 

Practices that concern process and persoimel safety such as steps for controlling hazardous energy, vessel entry, line opening, confined space entry, and flame or spark-producing work (hot work) should be addressed in procedures either as steps or as references. 

Preparation for shutdown of the equipment. During this phase, the type of energy being isolated must be identified and the specific hazards controlled. Authorized employees must prepare for shutdown by reviewing information such as the type and magnitude of the energy, controls, and hazards. 

An accredited ANSI standards conunittee is working on a revision of ANSI Z244, titled Control of Hazardous Energy—Lockout/Tagout and Alternative Methods. Its June 2002 draft requires that a risk assessment be performed in the design of lockout/tagout systems to determine the... 

SHA announced in early May a final rule to protect the safety and health of shipyard workers. The rule updates existing requirements to reflect advances in industry practices and technology, and provides new protections from hazards that previously were not addressed, including the control of hazardous energy. It is expected to prevent about 350 serious injuries each year. 

In addition, OSHA added new provisions for the control of hazardous energy and motor vehicle safety. 

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), 1998b, Lockout/Tagout Procedure for the Control of Hazardous Energy, GN470037, Issue E, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, January 21. 1998 (SNL internal Web). 

Control of Hazardous Energy (Lock out/Tag out) 29 CFR 1910.147 Worker protection from electrical and other stored energy hazards ... 

The integration of hazard analysis and risk assessment in the early design phases of a project and the implementation of the necessary actions to achieve an acceptable level of risk for injury or damages. Typically this entails facilities, hardware, equipment, tools, materials, layout, configurations, energy controls, environmental aspects, and products. 

Red—event or factor less than adequate (LTA). Any event, factor, or block of events or factors, that, after thorough examination, has been determined to have less than adequate controls or barriers to prevent a transfer of hazardous energy is colored red on the MORT chart. Caution in the use of this color is warranted since any system elements labeled LTA must be well documented and a recommended course of action provided in the hnal accident investigation report to management. 

OSHA 29 CER 1910.147, Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tag-out Requirements). 

Lockout/Tagout Control of Hazardous Energy Lockout-Tagout (OSHA 3120—2002). 

Control of hazardous energy lockout-tagout, OSHA Pub 3120. 

Failure to adequately control energy accounts for many serious accidents in construction. Lockout/tagout procedures help safeguard employees from the unexpected start-up of machinery or equipment or release of hazardous energy while performing servicing or maintenance tasks. 

---