2021 RETA Breeze September-October

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF EMPLOYEES WHO DEAL WITH HAZARDOUS ENERGY IN THE WORKPLACE:

IN PART TWO OF THIS ARTICLE, I WILL DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING TOPICS: 1. How does the concept of Exclusive Control apply to working on refrigeration equipment? 2. What are the 6 steps required to be followed when safely using protective devices? 3. What are the specific requirements for these protective devices? 4. What if the person applying the protective device is called away from work on leaves the device on the equipment after he/she has left for the day? Remember, working safely is everyone’s job. There are many serious injuries, including fatalities, that take place every year due to not following control of hazardous energy guidelines, applying the protective devices properly, or using broken/improper devices.

Your company’s Control of Hazardous Energy Program (AKA Lockout/Tagout Program) should apply to all employees of the company and any contractors or vendors who service, repair, adjust, lubricate, or otherwise perform non- production related work on machines and equipment. In addition, this program should cover all machinery, air lines, steam lines, ammonia or other chemical lines, hydraulic systems, water lines, or any other equipment having stored energy Typically, an exception to your program requirements are work performed on cord and plug equipment for which exposure to the hazards of unexpected start-up is controlled by unplugging the equipment from the only energy source and the plug remains under the exclusive control of the person performing service or maintenance work. There is a lot of information to cover on the Control of Hazardous Energy guidelines. Therefore, Part 2 will be published in the next edition of The Breeze.

• Affected Users – These employees work in the vicinity of the equipment that contains hazardous energy. In most companies, this could include everyone except office/administrative staff. Their training is more centered around awareness of their responsibilities related to control of hazardous energy, and to not bypass guards nor remove or alter any type of protective device in use. These employees do not have sufficient training to apply protective devices to equipment. They typically receive annual awareness training. • Authorized Users – Trained and qualified employees who follow the proper procedures in applying, and removing, protective devices used in controlling hazardous energy. The employees are required to have a periodic inspection, typically annually, to demonstrate their ability to safely and properly use protective devices used in the safe isolation of hazardous energy.

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