An Expanded Look at OSHA

During the first episode we discussed a broad overview of OSHA. We talked about OSHA compliance standards, the general duty clause, entities covered by OSHA, recording injuries on the OSHA 300 log, and the top 5 cited OSHA standards in 2009. In this episode we will again discuss these topics but in greater detail. This will include a closer look at one of OSHA's top 5 cited standards, Energy Control / LOTO standard 1910.147. The energy control / LOTO standard is relatively simple in its approach but largely misinterpreted in its application. The standard requires employers who conduct maintenance and servicing of equipment to control hazardous energy at the source and secure the sources while maintenance and servicing activities take place. You would think this sounds simple, but then why are employers consistently cited for failure to correctly implement this program? More importantly, why are hundreds of thousands of employees injured every year in the United States when maintaining and servicing equipment? We will discuss this standard and how it should apply to the workplace.