Workplace safety should be among the top priorities of every company, and de-energizing and securing work equipment is one step toward a successful safety culture. This should be done before any kind of repair, maintenance, or inspection, as otherwise, it can lead to dangers, injuries, and sometimes even fatalities, as well as equipment malfunctions. When companies secure their work equipment properly, it means they take care of their workers and how all tasks are performed properly. Let’s check out some of the essential tips you should follow here.
What are the risks of not de-energizing and securing your work equipment?
Employees can face many risks on their job if some things are not considered, and one very big issue may be improper equipment de-energization. Electrical hazards are one of the most urgent dangers. Live circuits may cause serious injuries, burns, or even kill you. Another big worry is mechanical risks, as machines that move unexpectedly may lead to crushing injuries, amputations, etc. Also, hydraulic and pneumatic systems that are under pressure might explode, which can cause traumatic injuries from unexpected releases of stored energy. If equipment isn’t cooled down before maintenance, it might burn you if it becomes too hot or steamy. In addition to physical threats, businesses might also suffer legal and financial problems, such as OSHA violations, big penalties, litigation, and harm to their brand. Also, if accidents happen because of not de-energizing, your company can face huge costs because of fines and not following strict regulations.
Shut down the equipment properly
Shutting down the equipment properly is very important, and you must follow this step carefully. You should use emergency buttons to control switches during operations, and then gradually reduce speed, pressure, or temperature. If you use some thermal systems, you should wait for them to cool down properly, and with pneumatic systems, they should depressurize safely. You must follow these steps properly, as skipping even one can lead to unexpected starts, burns, and injuries. When you shut down the equipment properly and gradually, you make sure everything is safe and sound, and you can easily move on to other activities and procedures in the workplace.
Apply lockout/tagout procedures
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) is an important step that prevents equipment from being accidentally turned back on while it is being serviced or maintained. To keep energy sources apart from one another, locks and tags are used to warn people not to use the equipment. Only those who have permission should put on and take off these locks and tags. This way, they can always know the equipment’s energy level. LOTO methods must encompass all possible sources of energy, including electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and thermal systems. Employees need to be properly trained, as understanding lockout/tagout procedures is very important for keeping people safe at work. Not following LOTO rules may lead to terrible incidents, such as machines starting up without warning, electrical shocks, or energy being released. To keep the workplace safe and follow OSHA rules, companies must strictly follow LOTO rules, conduct frequent audits, and offer the right lockout devices.
Make sure that everyone is properly trained
If you want to safeguard your employees from unexpected energization, you need to implement a good Lockout/Tagout protocol. This can protect them from experiencing hazardous energy, and in many places, it is a legal requirement set by the state. A good LOTO procedure has to have a step-by-step protocol for every piece of equipment, and there needs to be a lot of information on what kind of energy source we are dealing with, how to shut it down, and how to re-energize it. Standardized devices should be used to lock it. Also, there should be a distinction between the people who are authorized to remove locks and tags and those who operate with the equipment, and one should not do the work of the other. All employees should have LOTO training, and it should be revised every once in a while so that the people know how they need to operate and so that they get accustomed to new protocols. Implementing a good LOTO program is fundamental to a safe working space for your workers. The more time you spend on the individual steps, the less likely it is that something unexpected will happen.
Isolate all energy sources
Isolating all energy sources includes completely disconnecting your equipment from every power supply, like electrical circuits, hydraulic or pneumatic pressure, mechanical energy, and more. You should also discharge capacitors that may have some energy in them. This eliminates any hidden hazards and potential problems, as sometimes equipment may be turned on suddenly, leading to injuries and even fatal consequences. When you don’t isolate all energy sources properly, you’re putting everyone at risk, and this is something you must avoid. So, check out every piece of equipment and make sure you have isolated it from the energy source if you want everyone to be safe and sound in the workplace.
Common mistakes to avoid
Mistakes are a part of human life, and there will be many mistakes down the line, but you need to know what to do if you want them to occur less. First, you must make sure that all workers are informed of the de-energizing process, because many people are not aware of the danger of starting the equipment without having safety measures in mind. So, open communication is one of the main things you should have in mind here. Also, you must check up on your secondary energy sources, like backup power systems, as not maintaining them can lead to a sudden release of energy, which can be very dangerous. Finally, you must make sure you take each step at the right time, the protocol is adhered to completely. If you skip any step, you can make some grave mistakes, putting your workers in danger.
Every company needs to invest to make sure its working environment is as safe as possible because lives are at stake. De-energizing and securing your work equipment is one major part of achieving that safety. By having good protocols, training, and investing smartly, you can achieve great things.
