It happens fast. Running a machine that removes bran from rice, the operator reached into the exhaust side to remove a buildup of bran. The machine was not locked out. The operator made contact with a fan blade and cut off her fingertip. An employee manually loaded two pallets in the magazine of an automatic palletizer. One pallet jammed. The worker took off the top of the machine and reached inside to push the pallet manually. The machine’s sensor detected that the pallet had cleared, and the dispensing lift plate cycled. The moving parts crushed the worker’s forearm
OSHA’s lockout/tagout (LOTO) standard (§1910.147) applies to the control of energy supplies during servicing and/or maintenance of machines and equipment. Activities such as constructing, installing, setting up, adjusting, inspecting, modifying, lubricating, cleaning, unjamming, and making adjustments or tool changes to machines are covered. These tasks can expose the worker to serious hazards if the equipment unexpectedly starts up or otherwise releases hazardous energy. Violations of the LOTO standard ranked fifth on OSHA’s list of the top 10 most frequently cited standards for fiscal year 2015.