Posts Tagged ‘National Safety Council’

Electrical Safety in the Workplace

August 20, 2010

Introduction

Electricity is an inherently dangerous but versatile source of energy. When it is utilized according to sound safety principles, personal injury and property damage can be effectively prevented. The Lock-Out/Tagout standard (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147) outlines minimum performance requirements for the control of hazardous energy during servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment. Lock-Out/Tagout had 3,321 total violations and was ranked #5 Top Cited Violation.

Statistics:

  • Approximately 3 million workers service equipment and face the greatest risk of injury if lockout/tagout is not properly implemented.
  • Compliance with the lockout/tagout standard (29 CFR 1910.147) prevents an estimated 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries each year.
  • Workers injured on the job from exposure to hazardous energy lose an average of 24 workdays for recuperation.
  • In a study conducted by the United Auto Workers (UAW), 20% of the fatalities (83 of 414) that occurred among their members between 1973 and 1995 were attributed to inadequate hazardous energy control procedures specifically, lockout/tagout procedures.

“Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)” refers to specific practices and procedures to safeguard employees from the unexpected energization or startup of machinery or equipment, or the release of hazardous energy during service or maintenance activities.

  • Only properly trained employees will utilize the LOTO program.
  • No unauthorized personnel will attempt to operate machinery or tamper with machinery that has been locked out.
  • No employee will tamper with any LOTO device or tag.
  • Only authorized personnel may remove LOTO devices and tags in accordance with the LOTO program.

Per OSHA, the Top 5 sections sited:

1910-147 (c)(4) – Failure to develop, document and utilize procedures for the control of potentially hazardous energy (968 violations)

1910.147(c)(6) – Failure to conduct periodic inspection of the energy control procedure (684 violations)

1910.147(c)(7) – Failure to provide training on the energy control program (590 violations)

1910.147(c)(1) – Failure to establish a written lockout/tagout program(516 violations)

1910.147(d)(4)- Failure to properly apply a lockout or tagout device (193 violations)

Additional Resources:

Control of Hazardous Energy/Lockout/Tagout)

National Safety Council

Submitted by: Donna Kolody/Emedco

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Posted in Lockout and Electrical | Leave a Comment »

June is National Safety Month

June 3, 2010

It’s National Safety Month! Not that safety isn’t always important, but during the month of June the National Safety Council (NSC), which sponsors the initiative,  is putting in extra effort  to remind people to live and work safely. It is also encouraging companies to spend some time this month focusing on safe practices in the workplace.

How are they doing that?

For each week in June, the NSC has identified a specific theme on which to focus. You can see the full list of weekly themes as well as posters, tip sheets and other materials you can use for your own safety events here.

Many of the topics chosen by the NSC for this year’s National Safety Month are not necessarily related to workplace safety. They are topics like teen driving, prescription overdose prevention, summer safety, etc.

I found this interesting, because in my area of expertise, I am primarily focused on safety in the workplace and ways to make safety training effective. But, this made me give more thought to the idea that there’s more to your employees’ safety than simply working safe.

So given the NSC’s focus areas, this month might be a good opportunity to integrate “outside-of-work” safety topics into your workplace safety training sessions – or hold a unique session that focuses on general “life” safety.

Encouraging your employees not only to be safe at work, but at home too, is great way to help ensure you have happy, healthy employees in the workplace each day. And honestly, I feel like it’s an overlooked part of safety training in most workplaces.

You can also check out Emedco’s National Safety Month calendar for interesting safety facts and special deals on safety products.

Posted by got2 love safety

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Posted in Training, Motivation, Workplace Improvements | Leave a Comment »

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