International OSHAcademy

05/07/2026

Qualified means one who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated his ability to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project.
OSHA 1926.32(m)

04/07/2026

Designated person means "authorized person" as defined in paragraph (d) of this section.
OSHA 1926.31(i)

04/07/2026

Competent person means one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.
OSHA 1926.32(f)

04/07/2026

04/07/2026

Authorized person means a person approved or assigned by the employer to perform a specific type of duty or duties or to be at a specific location or locations at the jobsite.
OSHA 1926.32 (d)

04/07/2026

General Duty Clause
a) Each employer:
(1)
shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees;
(2)
shall comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act.
(b)
Each employee shall comply with occupational safety and health standards and all rules, regulations, and orders issued pursuant to this Act which are applicable to his own actions and conduct.

25/06/2026

The danger of normalized deviation: Why do we get comfortable with risk? 📉⚠️

In workplace safety, complacency is a silent operational liability.
When a hazard is left unaddressed, a subtle but dangerous psychological shift triggers across the workforce. A glaring danger doesn’t magically get safer over time—it simply becomes invisible.

The systematic breakdown of safety awareness moves through a distinct, predictable timeline, as illustrated in the infographic:
🔘 Day 1: High Alert | Awareness is sharp; everyone notices the issue.
🔘 Day 10: Avoidance | Habituation sets in; everyone actively ignores it.
🔘 Day 30: Acceptance | Tolerance takes over; it becomes part of the environment.
🔘 Day 60: Blindness | The normalization is total; nobody even sees it anymore.
..And then, inevitably, an incident occurs.
When we analyze workplace incidents, focusing strictly on the physical trigger—the trailing wire, the missing guardrail, or the loose bolt—is a surface-level evaluation.

The true root cause is cultural: organizational tolerance of risk. Normalizing these minor deviations is the definitive first step toward a major incident.

The Strategic Role of the HSE Professional 💪
This reality underscores why the HSE function is vital to operational success. Beyond executing compliance checklists and paperwork, safety leaders must serve as the "conscience keeper" of the organization.

Our mandate is clear:
Maintain visibility where others have developed blind spots.
Challenge accepted risks that have blended into the background.
Disrupt complacency before it compromises human life or asset integrity.
Achieving an authentic zero-harm environment requires every level of leadership and the workforce to actively participate. We must continuously audit our daily environments, recognize familiar hazards, and utilize reporting systems immediately.

Let's build a stronger safety culture together:

What proactive initiatives have you implemented to combat complacency and keep situational awareness sharp within your teams?

19/02/2026

Lockout/Tagout Safety
Lockout/Tagout regulations are based on OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 “Control of Hazardous Energy” standard
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) refers to the specific practices and procedures for safely de-energizing and re-energizing equipment when service or maintenance must be performed. Designated workers are required to go through a set of safety precautions that assure the machine will not inadvertently cause harm to the individuals servicing the machine.
According to OSHA, compliance with the lockout/tagout standard prevents an estimated 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries each year.
Proper lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures save workers from severe injuries and death. If equipment starts up during maintenance, workers can be caught in the machinery and suffer electrocutions, fractures, lacerations, crushing injuries, amputations, or fatalities.
Energy can be dangerous, and machines may be powered by multiple sources. To fully de-energize a machine it must be completely disconnected from its source of power (electricity, steam, gas, pneumatics or hydraulics, etc.) and go through a total equipment shutdown, ensuring that there is no risk for the system to release any remaining stored energy.

Watch out for stored energy. Machines can store energy in raised loads, coiled springs, charged capacitors, etc., even after the energy sources have been turned off. Make sure stored energy is depleted before starting maintenance.

Be safe and compliant with a lockout/tagout safety program.
Do I use lockout, tagout or both? OSHA standards require facilities to use either lockout or tagout, but using both ensures maximum protection. If an energy-isolating device can’t be locked out, the employer's energy control program must use a tagout system.

If the device can be locked out, an employer must use a lockout system unless the employer can prove that a tagout system is sufficient in protecting employees. The tagout system must meet the OSHA requirements for additional training and period inspections.

When do I apply lockout/tagout procedures?

When workers are servicing and maintaining machines
When workers must remove guards or circumvent safety devices during normal production
When workers must put any part of themselves near the equipment’s dangerous zones
During all set up activities
Basic elements of a lockout safety program
Identify which energy sources need to be locked out
Can device be locked out?
If an energy-isolating device have the capability to be locked, it should be.
If not, then a tagout system that meets additional training and inspection requirements will suffice.
Establish lockout/tagout procedure
Assign locking/tagging duties to specific individual
Deploy maintenance team
Ensure all stored energy has been released
Disconnect machine from all power sources (remember, some machines use multiple kinds of energy) and walk through total equipment shutdown, making sure there isn’t any energy left in capacitor banks, coils, etc.
Proceed with maintenance/service as determined by company protocol
Before returning machinery to operation and removing locks/tags, make sure that:
Equipment is in the “off” position
The equipment has been properly re-assembled
Equipment is reconnected to power sources
Follow company protocol for unlocking and/or untagging and returning machines to service
Remember: only the person who applied locks/tags should remove them!
References:

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/controlhazardousenergy/
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/wp-solutions/2011-156/pdfs/2011-156.pdf
https://safetymanagementgroup.com/eight-steps-for-safer-lockouttagout-programs/

28/01/2026

🔐 10 General Safety Rules – The Foundation of a Safe Workplace

Safety is not just a policy; it’s a daily discipline.

These 10 General Safety Rules remind us that accidents are preventable when everyone follows the basics:
✔ No Permit, No Work
✔ Use mandatory & required PPE
✔ Report all incidents – no matter how small
✔ Maintain good housekeeping
✔ Use the right tools in the right way
✔ Never take shortcuts
✔ Do only the jobs you are trained for
✔ Zero tolerance for drugs at work
✔ No horseplay on site
✔ Safety is everyone’s responsibility

When safety rules are followed consistently, we protect not only ourselves but also our teammates, assets, and reputation.

👉 Follow Safety first. Follow Safety always.