Precast Inc. - March/April 2008 - (Page 45)

Safety professionals constantly hear about fatal accidents due to improper procedures – or perhaps the lack of procedures – involving lockouts. In the precast industry, numerous pieces of equipment and machinery could cause severe injury or even death if proper lockout procedures are not implemented before working with, servicing or cleaning them. Molds, aggregate bins, conveyors, shears, benders, packers and mixers are some of the pieces of equipment in a precast plant that require lockout before any employee attempts to perform maintenance or cleaning on the equipment. Most of these require multiple lockouts, as they are usually operated by air, hydraulics and electricity. The regulations require that all individuals who perform a lockout must be properly trained in the procedures. They also require that all employees affected by the lockout be trained in recognizing when control procedures are being used and the importance of not removing any lockout equipment. A lockout must be implemented any time safety guards or safety devices are removed or disconnected that may result in employee exposure. Lockouts are also necessary when employees are required to place any part of their bodies in direct contact with the point of operation of the machine or in any danger zone within a machine operating cycle, such as going inside a mixer for cleaning. In addition to training, the regulations also require the employer to establish a program consisting of energy control procedures and periodic inspections or audits. These energy control procedures must include: • A specific statement of the intended use of the procedure • Specific steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing all machines or equipment to control hazardous energy • Specific steps for the placement, removal and transfer of lockout devices and the responsibility for them • Specific requirements for testing a machine or equipment to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices and other energy control measures • A written program that will be disseminated to employees Under the periodic inspections or audits, the employer must conduct an inspection at least annually to ensure that the procedures and requirements of this standard are being followed. This inspection will include a review between the inspector and the authorized employee to ascertain that the procedures are being followed. It will also help determine whether the procedures are effective as written. This inspection shall be certified by the employer. Another procedure allowed under regulation is “tagout” whereby a tag is attached to the isolating device indicating that HYDRAULIC CORING MACHINES Quick lock drill bit Laser line sensor Pneumatic ejector Teksam’s wide range of coring machines balances both speed and pressure control of the drill bit. The ability to control both functions independently allows the diamond bits to clean themselves during drilling, provides maximum bit life, and ensures optimal efficiency. It also allows the operator to leave the machine during drilling. Features Automated control of drilling height, depth, angle, and speed I Full remote radio control I Quick lock system for changing drill heads in seconds I Extended drill bit life I Pneumatic ejector for cored concrete block I Pressure and speed sensitive I Full PLC control with touch screen Represented in North and Latin America by: 2231 Holmgren Way Green Bay, WI 54304 U.S.A. 800-CTI-5050 920-497-8725 cti@cti5050.com www.cti5050.com MARCH/APRIL 2008 | WWW.PRECAST.ORG 45 http://www.cti5050.com http://www.cti5050.com http://www.precast.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Precast Inc. - March/April 2008

Precast Inc. - March/April 2008 Contents Technically Speaking Concrete Repairs Return-to-Work Programs Marketing in a New World Building Confidence Risk Management Culture Bloquea La Energia – Es Tu Vida! Lock It Out – It’s Your Life! Fiber Optics in Countertops MCPX Wrap-Up Product Profile People & Products Advertisers Index NPCA Calendar

Precast Inc. - March/April 2008

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