Health and Safety News

Question of the Week

Use of Nylon Cable Ties As Lockout Devices

Q. Is it appropriate to use heavy-duty nylon cable ties as an alternative to chains and locks on devices that are not specifically designed to accommodate a lock?

A. Under most foreseeable circumstances, the use of nylon cable ties would not be an appropriate substitute for more traditional and substantial lockout devices, such as locks and chains, when an energy isolation device is capable of being locked out. 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(i) states that lockout devices "shall be substantial enough to prevent removal without the use of excessive force or unusual techniques, such as with the use of bolt cutters or other metal cutting tools." While a cable tie is a positive means of holding the energy isolating device in a safe position, most commercially available cable ties are not constructed in a way that would require mechanisms such as bolt cutters or other metal-cutting tools to remove them. Nylon cable ties are generally removable through the use of common cutting tools (e.g., pocket knives, side cutters, or scissors) or by releasing the pawl mechanism with a device such as screwdriver. This does not constitute an "unusual technique," as required by the standard. Your company could, however, use the cable ties as part of a tagout system consistent with 1910.147(c)(5), as long as the use of the tagout system will provide "full employee protection," (e.g., double-block and bleed arrangement in conjunction with a tagout device, using a nylon cable tie as a means of attachment) as set forth in 1910.147(c)(3).

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OSHA News, Rules, and Interpretations

08/31/2007— Updating OSHA Standards Based on National Consensus Standards; Personal Protective Equipment; Notice of Informal Public Hearing
This notice schedules an informal public hearing on OSHA's
proposed rule updating its personal protective equipment (PPE) design
standards, which was published on May 17, 2007. Read more...

08/20/2007—Rochester, N.H., Manufacturer Faces $134,900 in Fines from U.S. Labor Department's OSHA for 66 Alleged Violations of Health and Safety Standard
Boston Felt Co. Inc. of Rochester, N.H., has been cited for 66 alleged willful, serious and other-than-serious violations of health and safety standards by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The felt products manufacturer faces $134,900 in proposed fines stemming from OSHA inspections begun in February of this year. Read more...

08/10/2007—Procedures for the Handling of Retaliation Complaints Under the Employee Protection Provisions of Six Federal Environmental Statutes and Section 211 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as Amended
The Department of Labor amends the regulations governing the
employee protection (“whistleblower”) provisions of Section 211 of
the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as amended (“ERA”), to
implement the statutory changes enacted into law on August 8, 2005, as
part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Read more...

08/09/2007—Statement by Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke Jr. on New Workplace Fatality Data
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Edwin G. Foulke Jr. issued a statement about the Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2006, which was released today. The fatality rate declined to its lowest level since BLS began collecting data in 1992. The rate last year was 3.9 fatalities per 100,000 employees, down from 4.0 in 2005. Read more...

08/02/2007—Cazenovia, N.Y., Pays Nearly $100,000 in Damages and Back Wages to Whistleblower Following Investigation by U.S. Labor Department's OSHA
Following a whistleblower investigation by the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the town of Cazenovia, N.Y., has paid nearly $100,000 in damages and back wages to an employee who was injured during a retaliatory work assignment and suffered other retaliatory actions after he raised concerns protected under federal environmental laws. Read more...

07/28/2007—U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA Recognizes 3M Co. for Safety and Health Excellence
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The 3M Co. in Columbia has earned membership in the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) prestigious Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) at the highest, or "Star," level. A recognition ceremony will be held Wednesday, Aug. 29 at the plant. Read more...

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CSB News

08/09/2007—CSB Investigative Team Examining Fire at Hughes Christensen in Houston, Similar Acetylene Delivery Trailer Involved in Major Dallas Fire July 25
An investigative team from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has been deployed to the site of Tuesday's acetylene fire at the Hughes Christensen Co. manufacturing facility in The Woodlands, Texas, a suburb of Houston. Read more...

08/07/2007—CSB Proceeding with Barton Solvents Explosions and Fire Assessment, Investigative Team Returning to Site Today
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board is proceeding with its assessment of the explosions and fire at Barton Solvents in Valley Center, Kansas, north of Wichita, with investigators returning to the accident site this week to gather further information. Read more...

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