Alternative Method Compliance and Guidance
designsafe® 9 introduces a new feature to help users with the control of hazardous energy. When done correctly, an Alternative Method can be used in lieu of fully locking out machinery for tasks like clearing jams, cleaning, set up, lubrication, and others. OSHA has accepted the use of Alternative Methods in certain cases, and this new feature helps you do it right.
designsafe® 9 adds a new 4th tab to guide customers in complying with the requirements for an Alternative Method in accordance with ANSI Z244.1 – Control of Hazardous Energy – Lockout, Tagout and Alternative Methods.
The new 4th tab in designsafe® 9 provides the outline of items that users need to evaluate when utilizing Alternative Methods with machinery. designsafe® 9 walks users through this process, provides guidance on what documentation you need to collect, and helps demonstrate how you have met the requirements to use an Alternative Method.
The left panel outlines all the items users need to consider. The center panel includes the requirements as per the ANSI standard. The right panel provides guidance to help in understanding requirements. Each section is highlighted and enlarged below.
A few of the different steps are shown below:
When working through the initial steps of the risk assessment process – identifying users, tasks and hazards, you can mark “Task is an Alternative Method” for each task which will carry over to the 4th tab.
In many cases, an end user (employer) may need to rely on the machine/equipment/system supplier to help complete the Alternative Method content. designsafe® 9 provides guidance on which entity is usually best able to address each topic of consideration in developing the Alternative Method.
Once the homework for this Alternative Method tab is completed, you should be able to proactively demonstrate to an OSHA compliance officer or an internal auditor how and why the hazardous energy is controlled and the workers are not at risk of harm. This opens up vast opportunities for improved machinery safety and productivity.
One of the more significant challenges new users face with risk assessment is knowing how to set up or structure their projects. There is often more than one way to formulate an assessment, and experience is usually the best resource for getting it right the first time. To address this issue, designsafe® 9 now provides templates and guidance on how to structure your risk assessment projects!
When setting up your assessment in the Information Wizard in designsafe® 9, you now have the option to begin your assessment with a template. These templates provide users a jumping off point for their assessment and demonstrates the different ways you can set up your assessments depending on the machine or process being assessed.
designsafe® 9 guides you through the different options and helps you to understand how to approach your project. It also provides a template for each approach discussed that you can use to jumpstart your assessments. Select the template, open the file, adjust the terms and descriptions for your application, and you’re on your way to identifying hazards!
One of the primary areas of confusion in the risk assessment process is how functional safety integrates with risk assessment. Frequently, engineers believe they’ve completed a risk assessment when they have arrived at a PLr, Category or SIL value. The new CSA tab helps clearly delineate how functional safety is appropriately integrated with the risk assessment.
In designsafe® 9, the Control System Assessment (CSA) data model has been improved. In version 8 the CSA was a separate pop up dialog. Now the CSA appears as the 3rd tab in designsafe® 9. Additionally, we have expanded the functional safety evaluation options to include Safety Integrity Levels (SILs) from IEC 62061.
All Risk Scoring Systems are updated to align with current industry standards. Additionally, the Dynamic Checklists have been update and streamlined to assist in speeding up the assessment.
Help Videos have been expanded and updated for designsafe® 9. The videos are easily accessible, just look for the button to find videos specifically related to the page that is open.