De-Energizing Hazards

摘要

De-energizing machines prior to conducting maintenance work is key to ensuring worker safety, but failure to do so continues to cause injuries and fatalities in workplaces. In 2013, 17 per cent or 2,737 of all orders issued by Ontario's Ministry of Labour inspectors were for machine guarding and lockout violations. In 2012, machine guarding and lockout was one of the top 10 most frequently issued orders by the provincial labour ministry. Lockout/tagout keeps employees safe by making a machinery inoperable, but just shutting down or disconnecting an equipment is not enough. According to Mauriah Lamia, content and social-media manager for Accuform in Brooks-ville, Florida, a program consisting of energy-control procedures, employee training and periodic inspections must be in place to prevent accidental equipment start-up that could injure workers. John Teece, senior product manager of safety with The Master Lock Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, agrees. "Whenever there is a source of hazardous energy - it could be an originating or residual source - there needs to be a hazardous-enemy control plan."