Are Employers Liable When Workers Deliberately Remove Machine Guards?
It depends on whether the worker’s violation was reasonably foreseeable. Lack of machine guarding is a common cause of serious workplace injuries and OHS penalties. But what if companies do put […]
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Recycling Company Fined $125,000 for Machine Fatality
A recycling company worker got killed while removing a bin of waste materials to be carted away. MOL inspectors determined that the mechanical safety devices designed to keep the bin […]
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2022 Due Diligence Semi-Annual Scorecard Special Report
For nearly 2 decades, OHS Insider has been the only source of data tracking due diligence in OHS cases across Canada. Why do we do it? Technically, “due diligence” is […]
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Due Diligence 2022 Semi-Annual Scorecard
2022 OHS due diligence cases and the lessons to apply to your own OHS program. For nearly 2 decades, OHS Insider has been the only source of data tracking due diligence […]
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Lockout: Employer Fined $100,000 for Machine Injury
A machine undergoing servicing unexpectedly started up and seriously injured the worker who was sanitizing the equipment. The employer was fined $100,000 after pleading guilty to failing to ensure that […]
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Machines: Plywood Manufacturer Fined $547,000 for Failing to Prevent Machine Injuries
A plywood manufacturer was on the receiving end of the largest administrative monetary penalty for OHS violations in BC in 2021 (reported so far). The $547,080 penalty was for a […]
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You Make The Call: Did Employer Use Due Diligence To Prevent Lockout Injury?
Scenario: After implementing the lockout procedure, a competent supervisor verifies that the machine has been de-energized and gives the all-clear for servicing to begin. But a loose bolt in the […]
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Strong OHS Program Not Enough to Prove Due Diligence for Foreseeable Risk
Residual stored energy caused a machine that was supposedly locked out to start up unexpectedly and amputate a worker’s thumbs. The employer argued that it exercised due diligence to comply […]
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The Biggest OHS Fines of 2021 (So Far)
OHS fines keep getting higher. There have already been over a dozen 6-figure reported penalties in the first 6 months of 2021. That’s more than we’d usually see for an […]
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Generic Lockout Procedures Don’t Prevent Fatalities or OHS Violations
OHS regulations require employers to implement policies and procedures to ensure that machinery and equipment is locked out and isolated from its source of energy while it’s serviced. And those […]
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Faulty Lockout Procedures Cost Fracking Firm $137,000
The firm did have written lockout procedures, but they weren’t specific to the equipment as the regulations require. They also didn’t require 2 workers to lock out the energy-isolating devices […]
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Food Processor Fined $138,000 for Machine Guarding and Lockout Violations
After sliding open a food slicing machine access door and reach inside to clear a jam, a worker cut his hand on the cutting blade. The employer was fined $138,638 […]
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Lockout and Energy Control – Compliance Game Plan
The 8 steps you must take to protect workers who service shutdown machinery. Most machinery and equipment has to be shut down before it can be safely serviced, cleaned, repaired or […]
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Lockout – Know the Laws of Your Province
When are lockout procedures required and what must they contain? Machinery and equipment typically has to be shut down before it can be safely serviced, cleaned, repaired or adjusted. But machines […]
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Lockout/Tagout Quiz
QUESTION Name the three basic elements of a Lockout/ Tagout Program? ANSWER Written procedure Training Periodic audits WHY IS IT RIGHT LOCKOUT/TAGOUT PROCEDURES APPLY AS FOLLOWS: Workers are servicing and maintaining equipment and unexpected […]
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Lockout Violation Results in Farm Worker’s Death, $70,000 Fine
A Saskatoon company will fork over $70,000 after pleading guilty to an OHS lockout violation resulting in a farm worker’s death. The victim became entangled on the roller of a […]
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Annual Lockout Tagout Training Audit Assessment Checklist
ANNUAL LOTO TRAINING AUDIT ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST Department: ____________________________________________ Location: _______________________________________________ Equipment: _____________________________________________ Instructions: This Assessment, which is designed to ensure all aut... Favorite
Do Two LOTO Violations in Three Months Justify Firing?
SITUATION A millwright working five months for an employer violates lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures while changing a flow valve by disconnecting and taping electrical wires instead of shutting off the electrical power. […]
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Lockout Tagout Training Confirmation Form
BENEFITS Workplaces where workers use equipment and machinery and so are at risk of injury when repairing and maintaining that equipment should have lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures. These procedures typically require equipment […]
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Spot the Safety Violation: Is This What You’d Call a Proper Lockout?
Here’s what Brian’s co-worker Chuck thinks when he finds this lock. “Hmmm. The lock is open. I guess that means Brian must be done clearing out the compactor, so I’ll […]
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You Make The Call: Do Lockout Work Controls Provide Protection Equivalent to Energy-Isolation?
OHS regulations frequently give employers leeway to use alternative safety measures when required engineering controls aren’t “reasonably practicable” to deploy—but only as long as those alternatives provide equivalent or greater […]
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Spot The Safety Violation: Proper Lockout Requires More than Locks
Are these locks properly locking out this panel box to protect workers? Electrical equipment poses serious safety hazards to workers who have to repair or maintain the equipment. That’s why equipment […]
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Lockout Tagout: Are Lockout Procedures Always Followed At Your Workplace?
What’s wrong with this operation? [WARNING: This is a graphic video] The good news: The electric panel explosion portrayed in this video is only a dramatization. The bad news: Lockout shortcuts are […]
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Spot The Safety Violation: Which Lockout Is Correct?
Photo A: Photo B: Only one of these photos shows machinery that’s been properly locked out—can you tell which one? Machinery and equipment pose serious safety hazards to the workers who operate them. […]
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Lockout Procedure
Companies have a duty to protect workers both while using equipment and machinery for their intended purpose and when repairing and maintaining that equipment. The primary way of fulfilling that […]
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Group Lockout Procedure
Companies have a duty to protect workers both while using equipment and machinery for their intended purpose and when repairing and maintaining that equipment. The primary way of fulfilling that […]
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Troubleshooting Exceptions to Lockout Requirements Under the OHS Laws
KNOW THE LAWS OF YOUR PROVINCE For further reading, see primary source: MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT: 5 Key Elements of a Troubleshooting Policy FED Canada OHS Regs.: 1. When it's necessary to remove a […]
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Lockout & De-Energization Policy
BENEFIT OHS laws require employers to implement lockout and de-energization measures to ensure that machinery and equipment is completely and safely de-energized while workers are repairing, maintaining and servicing it so […]
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Lockout & Hazardous Energy Control Policy
BENEFIT OHS laws require employers to implement lockout and de-energization measures to ensure that machinery and equipment is completely and safely de-energized while workers are repairing, maintaining and servicing it so […]
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