Once again, I was struck by a smart sign that reminded me of the importance of safety: “TAKE FIVE for SAFETY.” This one popped up while touring the APM Training and Development Center in Houston, Texas after our #NoExcuses for Equipment and Bearing Failures workshop.

It was the perfect closing theme to a day of learning how planned and precision maintenance practices, along with step-by-step procedures, not only reduce equipment failures but, most importantly, move us away from rushed reactive work that increases the risk of personal injury.

We had started our learning day taking five minutes to review safety procedures in the building. Later during the tour of the amazing APM training facilities, we had taken five to put on our personal protective equipment (PPE) to get near their mega GE turbines. Their commitment to safety at all times prompted me to share with you my five takeaways from our workshop for reliable work that will also deliver safety:

1. Prepare and plan your work. This quote from President Lincoln reminds us of the importance of preparation to get the job done right:

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” ― Abraham Lincoln

2. Torches, rosebuds, and oil baths are not safe methods to heat your bearings, as they will almost surely result in burns and damage your bearings. Instead, consider heating your bearings and other workpieces using safe induction heating. It’s a clean, faster, and more accurate method, whether in the shop or in the field and best of all, safe!
3. Electrical faults are dangerous! Taking five to reduce personal injury by adding ultrasound to inspect your electrical systems for arcing, tracking and corona is the best work safety practice.
4. Also, use ultrasound to detect dangerous leaks such as gas and ammonia before you step in there and breathe it in.
5. Protect your assets, both people and equipment, by implementing the following five steps along with precision maintenance technologies:

• Stop and think about the potential dangers associated with the job.
• Look for and identify any hazards.
• Assess the risk; consider any possible risk of damage or injury.
• Control hazards by implementing suitable control measures to reduce the risk.
• Monitor hazards to successfully mitigate the likelihood of injuries or damages as you work.

Further, I found this information about “Take 5 for Safety” that you may find useful for your facility:

The above-listed Take 5 Safety checklist is a tool used to identify health and safety hazards before starting work at a site. Performing health and safety checks using the take 5 procedure (Stop, Look, Assess, Control, and Monitor) helps workers and contractors mitigate exposure to injury hazards and health risks.

Source: SafetyCulture

Click here if you missed and want to read my previous safety post: Heaven can wait! Safety first. Always lock-out and tag-out your machines.