Wednesday, March 19, 2014

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family..."

Workers servicing or maintaining machines or equipment may be seriously injured or killed if hazardous energy is not properly controlled. Hazardous energy sources include electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal or other sources in machines and equipment that can be released unexpectedly. The Aluminium Plant Safety Blog has a recent story emphasizing the need for effective lock out tag out programs. Here is the story:

An industrial accident killed a 30-year employee of an aluminium company in the Midwest United States during the week of March 9, 2014

According to local county Sheriff, the worker was injured at the facility and airlifted to over 140 miles to a trauma hospital, where he later died. The release stated the worker was pinned between two pieces of machinery after an aluminum rolling mill cradle opened unexpectedly.

Inspectors with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) were on site Wednesday to investigate the circumstances of the accident.


The  VP of Communications & Investor Relations issued this statement: "(Company name) has initiated an investigation to understand the cause of the incident and we have begun the process of notifying appropriate authorities.  OSHA inspectors are expected to be onsite today. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and our employees during this difficult time. "We are currently investigating to understand the cause of this incident." The company says the victim had been employed at the company for 30 years and was a mill-helper.

The APSB would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of the deceased worker. We hope that the aluminium company will offer counseling to the co-workers of the deceased.

OSHA has some useful information regarding lock out tag out which can be viewed here, and here.

The Health and Safety Executive have useful information regarding safe isolation of plant equipment which can be found here.

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