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onomah25  
#1 Posted : 20 November 2019 09:05:25(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
onomah25

I have been tasked with producing a safe system of work for isolating screening equipment in a quarry. I have been instructed that the Site Manager is to be the only person authorised to isolate and lock off this equipment

The arguement for only authorising the Site Manager is that it is by making one person solely responsible it is straight forward and less likely to go wrong. 

The main issue I can see with giving one person sole responsibity is that people may be tempted to not bother to isolate at all if he's not around

Are there any other issues that I may have overlooked? 

Ian Bell2  
#2 Posted : 20 November 2019 09:17:49(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ian Bell2

Suggest that you read 2 HSE publications, they are free

HSG 250 Permit to Work

HSG 253 safe isolation of plant and equipment

Hsquared14  
#3 Posted : 20 November 2019 10:36:53(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Hsquared14

As Ian has said you need to read the HSE Guidance but I can see the obvious flaw in this approach, what happens when the site manager is on holiday and the machine needs to be isolated?  Answer - nothing and the machine gets "interfered with" without any isolation.  It also totally ignores the need for information, instruction and training.

Gerry Knowles  
#4 Posted : 20 November 2019 12:19:39(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Gerry Knowles

In the past when addressing this issue, I have always insisted that there are a number of people authories to carry out isolations of plant and equipment.  The isolation is controlled through through a permit to work system with date and time and lock numbers recorded. As part of the permit system a process of testing to ensure that the isolation has been effective.   In addition I have always favoured the initial isolation to be done in conjunction with a multi point hasp where the person or people who are working on the kit also apply their own locks. The princilple being that the authorised person applies the first lock and ensures that the equipment is fully isolated and it cannot run, the people doing the work apply their locks and do the required work.  When the work is complete the locks are removed with the authorised person removing their lock last.  The equipment can then be inspected for completeness and then restarted.

This does of course need to be backed up by suitable training of all concerned in isolation, ensuring that the equiment is isolated correctly and permit to work.  

This may sound a bit long winded by it does provide a safe system of work and ensures that the machine cannot be restarted before the work is completed.

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