Lockout/tagout procedures are essential to some New York workplaces because they protect workers from cases where dangerous machinery energizes or starts up unexpectedly. They are said to prevent some 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries every year across the U.S., but lockout/tagout violations were listed at number four in OSHA’s Top 10 list of the most cited violations.
Any LOTO training program must go step by step through the process. It all begins with the procedures for shutting down and restarting machinery. There can be hazards associated with the shutdown, which must be emphasized. The shutdown instructions should be written down for reference and must present the steps in the correct order.
Isolation points, which are the points where the machine can be disconnected from its energy sources, must be identified and labeled. After disconnecting these, workers should then apply lockout devices to the energy isolation equipment. To test the devices, they can try to start up the machinery.
Once everything is off, workers can perform whatever maintenance or other procedures they need on the machinery. Employers should have it so that only the one who applied the lockout device removes it. Then, the machinery can be reactivated.
Under workers’ compensation law, those injured on the job can receive benefits that cover all of their medical expenses and, as a part of disability leave, a percentage of their lost income. You may want a lawyer to assist with this because the employer can still try to deny benefits. The lawyer may help you mount an appeal or may discuss with you the pros and cons of opting for a lump sum settlement.
