mrtweaver
Member
I recently had an event that I would like to ask the experts on this site how they view it and how they think the outcome should be.
A machine that was designed overseas has electrical and pneumatic controls. It is clearly labeled with all the safety warning. There is also a keylock to override some of the safety devices.
Issue: Mechanic working on machine. Has to make an adjustment to a set of shears. Opens the doors but has the key switch enabled. Pushed estop and proceeds to make adjustments. A wrench falls on a sensors activating it. The stored up residual pneumatic pressure caused the shears to active causing the mechanic to require 23 stitches in his hand. Lukily did not loose anything.
Manufacturer of machine noted that during the routine in question the outputs were not locked out on the PLC. All other times they were but not this time. They send in a revised program.
The safety committee put all the blame on the mechanic. Stating the following: Mechanic did not have machine properly locked out, mechanic had safety key system enabled, mechanic did not remove all stored energy.
While I do see the companies point I dont think it fair to place all the blame on the mechanic. I beleive the mfg should also have been mentioned in the report being as they did not have the outputs locked out during that step in the process.
So in a case like this where do you draw the lines of whose at fault and what to report?
Just curious. Thanks and have a great and prosperous new year.
A machine that was designed overseas has electrical and pneumatic controls. It is clearly labeled with all the safety warning. There is also a keylock to override some of the safety devices.
Issue: Mechanic working on machine. Has to make an adjustment to a set of shears. Opens the doors but has the key switch enabled. Pushed estop and proceeds to make adjustments. A wrench falls on a sensors activating it. The stored up residual pneumatic pressure caused the shears to active causing the mechanic to require 23 stitches in his hand. Lukily did not loose anything.
Manufacturer of machine noted that during the routine in question the outputs were not locked out on the PLC. All other times they were but not this time. They send in a revised program.
The safety committee put all the blame on the mechanic. Stating the following: Mechanic did not have machine properly locked out, mechanic had safety key system enabled, mechanic did not remove all stored energy.
While I do see the companies point I dont think it fair to place all the blame on the mechanic. I beleive the mfg should also have been mentioned in the report being as they did not have the outputs locked out during that step in the process.
So in a case like this where do you draw the lines of whose at fault and what to report?
Just curious. Thanks and have a great and prosperous new year.