Zero Energy Isolation
At Memorial there are multiple areas where energy may pose a potential hazard to faculty, staff and students. Energy may be electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, nuclear, thermal, or gravitational. It usually provides power to a piece of equipment, machinery or a process and if not controlled can lead to an injury or illness to workers. For example, electrical energy is very common and without adequate controls could lead to an electrical shock or exposure to an arc flash. Another common example is mechanical energy in a system under tension. A coiled or compressed spring with stored energy may release and strike a person.
A zero energy program has been developed to provide standardized safe work procedures and safe work practices to be followed when working with machinery, equipment or a component of building infrastructure that may expose a worker to hazardous energy.