Make Safety Your Priority

May 27, 2016

I have chosen for my third article to write about a topic that is very important to me—and I hope also to you. I lost my hand in a paper machine accident in 1985, so I have experienced personally the impact a serious accident has on the injured and those around them. In our machinery-intensive industry, safety must be a priority.

I had the honor to recently do a safety presentation at President Container in Middletown, New York. I met with each of the crews to share my personal testimony of my accident, how it changed my life, and how it could have been prevented. It is true when they say all accidents are preventable. In my case, if I would have followed the simple lock out/tag out (LOTO) procedure, my accident would have never occurred. I thought it would be helpful to remind us all of the very obvious but critical points of LOTO:

First and foremost, safety is everyone’s responsibility. NOTE: Most accidents can be avoided if a co-worker speaks up about previous safety concerns or violations.
Never enter a machine without first following proper LOTO procedure.
There are no exceptions to item two.
LOTO should be quick, easy, and routine. NOTE: Locks should be on your body or close by at a lock station.
Just because a machine has been locked out does not mean it is completely safe. NOTE: Other energy sources may still remain. For example:
- Pneumatic
- Steam
- Stored energy
- Gravity
It is critical to know the proper lockout location for each machine. For example, locking out a double facer doesn’t ensure the rotary shear is also safe.
It is important that you understand and follow your individual company procedure in order to assure your safety and that of others around you. LOTO can vary from plant to plant.

In the 30 years since my accident, I have had the opportunity to meet and speak with many people who have had an accident or a close call. While everyone’s story is a little different, one thing remains common: Today, we would do whatever it takes to avoid the accident happening again. Accidents are irreversible, and they change lives. Please do your part in protecting yourself and the people around you. It is our professional and moral obligation.