Lack of Written Lockout Policy Leads to $55,000 Fine

A supervisor and two workers were clearing a jam in a machine that wasn’t locked out to prevent it from reenergizing. When the supervisor left to get help, one of the workers put his hand into an opening in the machine and part of it was severed. Although the company had a general lock out policy, it didn’t have a written policy for the lockout and tag out of this particular machine. The company pleaded guilty to failing to have a written lockout/tag out policy and was fined $55,000 [Amhil Enterprises Ltd., Govt. News Release, July 18, 2012].