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Human Error Traps and Safety
The Six-P Rule (Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance) can go a long way to preventing human error, but humans still make mistakes. James Reason, a prominent University of Manchester professor, psychologist, and author, states: “Human error is a consequence, not a cause. Errors are shaped by upstream workplace and organizational factors. Only by understanding the context of the error …
Power Transformer Hazard Awareness
Performing condition analysis or maintenance on a power transformer and ancillary devices is a potentially hazardous task that requires well-trained test personnel to identify and mitigate risks. Products and equipment that are designed to test and diagnose equipment while in operation, such as infrared cameras, partial-discharge detection equipment, and online oil analysis can be used to determine a power transformer’s …
Drug and Alcohol Policies: Are They Up to Date?
On a recent family vacation to Florida, this author was amazed at the number of locations openly advertising the purchase of medical marijuana. This discovery highlighted the need to revisit current information on the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana (Figure 1). With recreational or medical marijuana use now legal in many US states, workplaces should review their health and …
PPE Requirements for Installing Temporary Protective Grounds
The purpose of using temporary protective grounds is to protect personnel servicing the equipment and to create a safe work environment. Before servicing a piece of electrical equipment, it is important to ensure that it is in a safe state and to verify zero voltage before applying temporary protective grounds. In many situations, more than one set of grounds or …
Seasonal Safety
It is said that spring is a time of new growth for Mother Nature, but it is also true for many man-made industries. It can be a time of heavy workload, especially for construction and related industries. Each season presents very real hazards that everyone must be made aware of. It is a good idea to train employees about these …
Communicating Hazards Using a Pre-Job Brief
Protection from hazards always begins with proper prior planning. An important aid to planning a job correctly and thoroughly includes using a tool known throughout the industry as a pre-job brief (PJB). These tools are commonly used at tailboards or tailboard meetings in construction parlance, but no matter what they are called, they are all designed to help you do …
Rotating Machinery Hazard Awareness
Performing condition analysis or maintenance on rotating machinery is a hazardous task that requires an experienced individual who is capable of performing the duty and possesses a solid ability to identify any potential hazards and mitigate their risks. Inadvertent injuries, such as crushed hands, arms, severed fingers, blindness, or death can occur from rotating machinery if extreme caution is not …
Programs, Policies, Manuals, Procedures, and Training
Several regulatory agencies direct which documents are required when performing a company’s tasks. In some cases, federal and state requirements must be adhered to for the same task or hazard. For example, in the United States, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and state environmental agencies such as the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) regulate potential environmental …
Battery Safety Concerns
The theme for this issue of NETA World is electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. EV vehicles are either wholly driven off battery power or, in the case of a hybrid, driven with battery and supplemented with a gas internal combustion engine. Let’s review some of the safety issues associated with batteries. One major concern when working with or around batteries …