Precast Inc. - March/April 2008 - (Page 49)

estimated 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries each year. NIOSH publication 99.110 lists some accidents as a consequence of not following proper lockout procedures in various industries: • A 25-year-old male worker at a concrete pipe manufacturing facility died from injuries he received while cleaning a ribbontype concrete mixer. • A 38-year-old worker at a county sanitary landfill died after falling into a large trash compactor used to bale cardboard for recycling. • A 33-year-old janitorial worker died after he was trapped inside a dryer at a hospital laundry while cleaning plastic debris from the inside of the dryer drum. All of these accidents could have been prevented had the proper lockout procedures been followed. As an employee working in and around equipment, remember these basic rules: 1. If you are not an authorized, trained employee, do not attempt to lock out or isolate equipment from its energy source. 2. If the equipment is locked, do not try to remove the lock or start the equipment. 3. If any part of your body is in a danger zone, the equipment must be locked in accordance with proper procedures. 4. Shutting down the equipment with the on-off switch or closing a valve is not considered a lockout. 5. Do not remove any guards or any safety devices if the equipment is not locked out. 6. If you perform a lockout, keep the key with you at all times. 7. Do not attempt any quick fix; lock out the equipment. 8. Understand and become familiar with your plant’s lockout program. 9. Do not operate equipment without safety devices in place. 10. If you do not know or have any doubts about the procedures to follow, talk to your supervisor. Failure to isolate energy sources can and will kill you. Think before you act; a moment of prevention is better than a lifetime of pain and suffering. Gustavo Gonzalez has nearly 20 years of experience in the precast concrete industry. He has a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering Technology from Florida International University and is a former precast concrete plant manager. He currently serves as an instructor for the National Safety Council and the National Precast Concrete Association. MARCH/APRIL 2008 | WWW.PRECAST.ORG 49 http://www.emhcranes.com http://www.emhcranes.com http://www.emhcranes.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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