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WorkSafe WA said, where practicable, machinery needed to be shut down and its energy sources locked out and tagged as part of an isolation procedure to ensure the safety of workers undertaking inspections, repair, maintenance or cleaning.
“WorkSafe inspectors in regional areas have expressed concern about the number of recent injuries that could have been prevented if safe work practices had been in place in relation to isolation of machinery and lockout and tagging procedures,” WorkSafe WA commissioner Nina Lyhne said.
“One example was where an employee had part of his finger amputated while he was cleaning a machine that had not been isolated before the cleaning procedure began.
“The machine was being cleaned while it was still in operation and the inspector subsequently discovered that the workplace did not have any procedures in place for isolation.”
WorkSafe said the procedure should consist of five separate steps – locking, isolating, tagging, testing and checking - and should be combined with providing information, instruction and training for all workers involved.
“It seems awareness of the requirements for isolation and lockout and tagging of machinery is lower than we would like it to be, and it is worth reminding everyone of their obligations.”
