New Book

Deactivation, De-Energization, Isolation, Lockout, Verification
The Art and Science of Managing Hazardous Energy 

Energy is a highly intangible ‘something’ with which we all have familiarity. Energy is intrinsic to certain objects, and can be transferred to them and from them to others, and makes things happen. Energy contained in some materials and systems is ‘stable’ and resists release, while in others is unstable and is released with minimal disturbance.

The harnessing of energy from energy sources and materials containing energy is intrinsic to the activity that occurs in all societies, regardless of their state of development. The misuse and inappropriate use of energy sources and materials containing energy have caused countless injuries and deaths. Much of the modus vivendi of the safety profession focuses on minimizing the hazardous use of energy sources and materials containing energy.

Much of industrial equipment and industrial endeavor is concerned with the production and extraction, storage, transfer and transport, and use or conversion of energy from energy sources and materials containing energy. (Energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can be converted from one form to another.) The actual outcome from these endeavors may be production of a tangible item or substance that may seemingly have nothing to do with energy. Yet, production of industrial products and chemical substances involves energy, and energy has everything to do with the hazardous conditions that can occur in certain workspaces. To illustrate, the sole purpose for many industrial structures is to confine processes and activities that involve energy. Entry into these structures before the energy is discharged and maintained at nonhazardous levels represents a pre-accident condition.

Hazardous energy is the level of energy that is likely to cause bodily harm. Hazardous energy includes energies generated by physical, chemical, nuclear, mechanical, and other processes. Contact with hazardous levels of energy occurs during accident situations. Contact with nonhazardous levels of energy can occur as a routine part of work experience. To take this even further, nonhazardous levels of some types of energy, for example ionizing radiation, are part of the normal environment in which we live. In fact, there are some parts of the earth where the normal background exceeds levels that would prompt investigations in workplace situations.

Coming soon!