Discussion: The laboratory’s electrical safety interlock system consisted household extension
cords stretched across the doorways.
Electrical safety training required under the OSHA standard CFR 1910.
. locking
system that prevents the doors from being opened until the power disconnected also
recommended.
Discussion: The laboratory did not have lock-out/tag-out program for safely deenergizing the
experiments. The system could also easily bypassed using another extension cord to
bridge the gap after the door opened.333. Although effective, this system may fail the light gauge
cords are damaged. Their practice was shut down the power activating the safety interlocks,
leaving potential hazard the interlock malfunctioned another worker inadvertently
reconnected it.4
RECOMMENDATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS
Recommendation #1: Employees must throughly trained the safe handling electrical
circuits. should noted that the locking
out and tagging electrical circuits required under the OSHA standard CFR 1910. The FACE program recommends that
the employer immediately implement effective electrical lock out, tag-out program that
includes deenergizing and locking out all circuits the breaker box.332. These procedures should be
in writing and made part the employee’s training program. this situation, the employee was able reach the cables without entering the
fenced area, essentially bypassing the interlock system.
Recommendation #3: The laboratory should consider redesigning the electrical safety
interlock system. Employees should receive basic electrical safety training, including how recognize
energized circuits and the proper method deenergize the circuit (see recommendation #2). This type system may permit the installation emergency power shut down
buttons connected into the interlocks. FACE recommends that all employees
should throughly trained electrical safety before being permitted work the testing
areas. FACE recommends that the employer install a
hardwired interlock system activated switch installed directly the doors.
Recommendation #2: Employers should develop, implement, and enforce electrical lock-
out/ tag-out program.
Discussion: this situation, the victim’s failure deenergize the power suggests lack of
understanding the dangers live electrical circuits.
Employees authorized work live electrical circuits should receive additional training
