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New videos highlight the hazards of potential and kinetic energy and how employers can reduce the risks

Published on: December 16, 2020

Three new videos aimed at manufacturing employers and workers describe potential and kinetic energy, and the hazards associated with them.

Potential energy is energy that is stored in an object and can be dangerous to workers when released unexpectedly. Kinetic energy is energy that is generated by an object in motion and may still be present in equipment after it has been shut down and locked out.

What Is Potential Energy and What Are the Hazards? and What Is Kinetic Energy and What Are the Hazards? describe possible sources of potential and kinetic energy in the workplace, and illustrate controls employers can implement to reduce the risk to their workers.

Kinetic Energy Risk Management: Case Study showcases how one employer worked with B.C.’s Manufacturing Advisory Group (MAG) to reduce the risk of kinetic energy by implementing innovative controls.

For more information and resources, see Lockout & de-energization and Safeguarding.