OSHA

Many workplaces offer and are equipped with sections that are not wholly accessible to all employees. Such sections, which may also be considered as confined, are set up for a specific purpose. They include manholes, vaults, pits and pipelines among others. OSHA describes certain workspaces which may pose hazardous effects and the acceptable conduct within such settings to minimize on accidents and the effects of such accidents (Veasey 20005). The space may contain dangerous objects and substances. Its structure may also be such that if not handled with utmost care can cause grievous damage to the body and health of the victim. In particular, the OSHA lockout standard is meant for control and maintenance of machines and the energy required starting such machines or those emitted by the machines.

The OSHA lockout standard is a procedure aimed at upholding the safety of workers or operators of such machines that may close up during the procedure or may emit certain substances, which may prove hazardous. More often than not, it applies to machines undergoing repair or maintenance. The aim of the lockout or tag out system as it is also called is to prevent accidents that may occur due sudden and vigorous closure of the machines, or even due to emissions from the machines and facilities (Veasey 2005). The emissions in this context refer to various forms of energy including radiations. One of the methods used in the prevention of accidents as stipulated by the lockout standard is through the use of control circuitry. This prevents accidental closure of the area of the facility under operation.

Another of the regulations is that all the workers plying their trade within a given facility need to know the hazards that they are exposed to in such workplaces (Veasey 2005). They should also be provided with the necessary protective gear to allay any effects of accidents. It goes without saying that anyone who enters a permit-required confined space needs to be a professional in the area of work designated. The purpose of allowing entry to trained personnel is that they are best suited to handling the situations in such places should things not go according to plan. In addition, the training they undergo enables them to be resistant and not yield to panic should a tricky situation arise (Veasey 2005).