Lockout/tagout helps prevent worker injuries
Apr 10, 2009 1:50 PM
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reminds business owners that approximately three million workers service equipment and face the greatest risk of injury if lockout/tagout is not properly implemented.
Compliance with the lockout/tagout standard 29 CFR 1910.147 prevents an estimated 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries each year, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Workers injured on the job from exposure to hazardous energy lose an average of 24 workdays for recuperation that lockout/tagout might prevent.
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.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has lockout/tagout standards, plans, and other information posted online at osha.gov.
