Caldwell, ID – A worker killed while cleaning a machine needed the protections that a robust lockout/tagout program provides – written procedures on safe shutdown, and employee training on lockout practices.
A fatal accident occurred at the Crookham Company, a seed production facility, last week. 63-year-old Francisca R. Gomez was cleaning a machine on January 20th when her hair got caught in a machine and it pulled her in. An autopsy showed that she died of hemorrhaging and asphyxiation. The death has been ruled an accident and OSHA officials are investigating.
Proper shutdown of machinery during maintenance is crucial to employee safety and mandated by federal OSHA regulations. Lockout/Tagout procedures provide detailed instruction on how to isolate and lock each energy source for a given piece of equipment, helping to prevent the unexpected energization or startup of machinery and equipment, or the release of hazardous energy during service or maintenance activities. Martin Technical’s Rapid LOTO lockout procedure development program is designed to provide high quality procedures that are easy to follow.
Approximately 3 million workers service equipment and these individuals face the greatest risk of injury if lockout/tagout is not properly implemented. Compliance with state and federal lockout/tagout standards prevent 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.
Martin Technical is a leading provider of practical safety and efficiency services that make industrial plants and facilities better, safer and more efficient. Our experts can help simplify the complex by applying real-world solutions for Lockout Tagout, Arc Flash, Electrical Safety, Risk Assessments, Training, Machine Safety & Safety Consulting Services. Contact an expert on our Safety & Compliance Team to discuss.
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