All About Debris Caps OSHA Compliant Lockout Mechanism 2/2015
Any employer knows that providing a service or completing a job is important but nothing is more important than employee safety while on the job. No matter what job an employee performs, whether low risk or high, employees must carry insurance to protect employees should an injury occur on the job. Insurance is a good thing but improving working conditions and making them more safe is the best protection you can provide for employees so that both you and they can have peace of mind. Additionally, there are agencies governing and protecting employee safety such as OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) that are there to set standards and protect worker's rights. A quote by Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez on the OSHA home page describes the importance of worker safety perfectly, "No one should have to sacrifice their life for their livelihood, because a nation built on the dignity of work must provide safe working conditions for its people." Utility workers charged with maintaining the city's water and gas services have to access valves with frequency. This can mean accessing these things in various precarious conditions, climbing down a manhole shaft, stepping on slippery surfaces and dealing with valves that, when accessed incorrectly, could cause significant injuries. Debris caps are an ideal way to improve worker safety because they have a lockout option that not only makes working conditions more safe but is OSHA compliant as well.
Debris caps prevent dirt and debris from entering pipes and valves, which can cause damage, clogs and even erosion. This damage is obviously costly and can put not only workers but city residents and businesses at risk as well. When a gas line or water line is being accessed for maintenance, or in the event of an emergency, it should ideally only be accessed by the person doing the work. If, in another part of the city someone else accesses a line when the line is already open somewhere else, it could put everyone at risk of injury and damage. But, it can be difficult to be in constant communication with other workers, especially in the event of an emergency. For this reason, SW Services has created a debris cap with a lockout option. With this option, when a gas or water line is being accessed the lockout option will prevent unauthorized access which will help prevent workers from injuring themselves. OSHA has strict rules in place for businesses to ensure that workers are protected. Recently, OSHA introduced guidelines for workers that deal with hazardous situations involving valves and switches and the debris cap with lockout mechanism is the perfect solution to providing safety for workers that deal with such things. All municipalities should utilize debris caps with a lockout mechanism to create a more safe workplace and provide peace of mind that worker safety is the highest priority.