Page 16 - Occupational Health & Safety, June 2019

ELECTRICAL SAFETY
The Importance of the Hierarchy of Controls
Lockout/tagout programs and corresponding training have be- come popular topics of conversation as NFPA 70E nears the one- year mark of including the Hierarchy of Controls in its manda- tory text for the first time. The Hierarchy of Controls is not a new concept, but this inclusion in the top source for best practices and procedures underscores how critical it is for organizations to have a firm understanding of the hierarchy, of which lockout/tagout finds itself a part.
The Hierarchy of Controls offers a systematic process for re- ducing the likelihood of an electrical incident. Its five hierarchy tiers start at the bottom with the controls perceived to be the least effective, which is protecting the worker with Personal Protective Equipment. It then moves up to those considered the most effec- tive, such as Replacing the Hazard or Physically Removing the Hazard altogether. Administrative controls are found in the second tier from the bottom and according to OSHA are meant to change the behavior of workers, with examples including things such as training, procedures, policies, and installation of signs and warn- ing labels. A lockout/tagout program is an example of an adminis- trative control; these are mainly used alongside existing protocols where hazards are not well controlled.
For many organizations, these are the primary approaches to reducing workplace injuries. As a result, the safety of these work-
ers relies on the controls being properly designed, maintained, and implemented by the staff. Warnings and signs can certainly help mitigate hazards, but the training employees receive to use these components can help prevent workplace injury even more.
OSHA has estimated that its lockout/tagout standard prevents 85 percent of the total number of injuries or fatalities from expo- sure to hazardous energy in the workplace. It estimated that ap- proximately 31,900 minor (non-lost-workday) injuries, 28,400 lost-workday injuries, and 122 fatalities per year are prevented by the standard.
While the standard is great, it’s the lockout/tagout programs and training that really deliver the safe results that organization and companies are looking for. Over time, equipment and operating procedures can change, but lockout/tagout programs will always play a critical role for organizations looking to avoid workplace injuries and to adhere to NFPA 70E, OSHA 1910 Subpart S, and OSHA 1926 Subpart K.
Darron Wright is the Panduit Product Lifecycle Manager for Cable Accessories, Abrasion Protection, and Safety Products. In this role, he supports existing product lines by driving revenue and profitability. He holds a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering degree from Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from Georgia State University.
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