As we enter the new decade, lockout and tagout (LOTO) will remain the backbone of any security plan. However, as standards and regulations evolve, the company’s LOTO program must also evolve, requiring it to evaluate, improve, and expand its electrical safety processes. Many energy sources must be considered in the LOTO plan: machinery, pneumatics, chemistry, hydraulics, heat, electricity, etc. Because of its invisible characteristics, electricity usually brings unique challenges-we can’t see, hear or smell electricity. However, if it is left unchecked and an accident occurs, it can be one of the deadliest and most costly events. Regardless of the industry, one thing that all modern manufacturing facilities have in common is the existence of electricity. From heavy industry to commerce and everything in between, identifying and controlling electrical hazards is an important part of every safety plan.
When considering electrical hazards, comprehensive consideration is important. Electricity not only affects all facilities, but also affects everyone on the job site. An electrical safety plan must address not only electrical work, but also electrical hazards encountered in normal factory operations and routine maintenance, unplanned services, cleaning and repair situations. The electrical safety plan will affect electricians, non-electrical maintenance workers, technicians, operators, cleaners and site managers.
As the manufacturing process becomes tighter, it is common to see an increase in the demand for access to electrical equipment from multiple industries and the introduction of more interference. Even the best workers will have bad days, and experienced workers will become complacent. Therefore, most incident investigations reveal multiple errors or deviations in the process. To establish a first-class electrical safety program, you must go beyond compliance and adopt new technologies and best practices that address human factors.
Post time: Aug-21-2021