Circumstances of Fatal Lockout/Tagout-Related Injuries in Manufacturing

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bulzacchelli MT ; Lees PSJ ; Sorock, Gary S. ; Vernick JS ; Webster DW
• Description:
  Background: Over the past few decades, hundreds of manufacturing workers have suffered fatal injuries while performing maintenance and servicing on machinery and equipment. Using lockout/tagout procedures could have prevented many of these deaths. Methods A narrative text analysis of OSHA accident investigation report summaries was conducted to describe the circumstances of lockout/tagout-related fatalities occurring in the US manufacturing industry from 1984 to 1997. Results The most common mechanisms of injury were being caught in or between parts of equipment, electrocution, and being struck by or against objects. Typical scenarios included cleaning a mixer or blender, cleaning a conveyor, and installing or disassembling electrical equipment. Lockout procedures were not even attempted in the majority (at least 58.8%) of fatal incidents reviewed. Conclusions Lockout/tagout-related fatalities occur under a wide range of circumstances. Enhanced training and equipment designs that facilitate lockout and minimize worker contact with machine parts may prevent many lockout/tagout-related injuries. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Maintenance Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Mortality Occupational Health Safety Staff Development
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Injury Equipment Design Equipment Operators Equipment Reliability Industrial Equipment Injuries Lockout/Tagout Machine Machine Operators Maintenance Workers Manufacturing Mortality Data Occupational Safety Safety Education Safety Measures Training Traumatic Injuries

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Maryland ; Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 3
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  51
• Issue:
  10
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20034822
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2008 Oct; 51(10):728-734
• Contact Point Address:
  Maria T. Bulzacchelli, Department of Public Health, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, 715 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01003
• Email:
  bulzacchelli@schoolph.umass.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2009
• Performing Organization:
  Johns Hopkins University
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19940701
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• End Date:
  20050630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b87fca3584731a405d46084d80d344ff216529495cd3eb9f7b1b8a3b9f3d3e7867c03b26fd8f41294011b0ef165416fa9b8f0f3ea72d64082488aa3df3064ef4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/186886/cdc_186886_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 105.03 KB ]