PITTSBURGH, PA and PARK RIDGE, IL -- McElhattan Foundation has awarded a $200,000 grant to the American Society of Safety Professionals Foundation (ASSPF) to support efforts to reduce serious injuries and fatalities (SIFs) related to the control of hazardous energy, commonly known as lockout/tagout.

These risks arise when workers operating, maintaining or servicing equipment are exposed to uncontrolled energy.

The grant will enable ASSP to accelerate the development and delivery of its Standards-Based User Group (SBUG) focused on lockout/tagout. This initiative aligns with McElhattan Foundation’s commitment to ending death on the job by 2050 and advancing efforts designed to save worker lives. The SBUG will translate best practices into consistent frontline execution, strengthening safety during energy-control activities.

An SBUG is a structured peer network of stakeholders committed to implementing safety practices that go beyond compliance and align with industry consensus standards or other high-priority areas. These groups emphasize practical implementation of standards, helping organizations reduce SIFs through shared learning, benchmarking and peer-vetted best practices.

"We are thrilled to support ASSP’s lead role in closing the gap between occupational health and safety regulations and real-world industry best practices and applaud their launch of an innovative new model designed to protect workers’ lives through research, knowledge sharing and collaborative implementation,” says Jocelyn Horner Kelly, executive director, McElhattan Foundation.

“The control of hazardous energy remains a leading cause of serious injuries and fatalities in the workplace,” adds Linda Tapp, CSP, ALCM, CPTD, president, ASSP. “The unexpected release of energy from machines, equipment and processes can harm workers, damage property and disrupt business operations. Now is the time to address lockout/tagout by convening organizations and industry experts to share best practices and identify opportunities for improvement. ASSP thanks McElhattan Foundation for its generous support in making this work possible.”

To learn more about the control of hazardous energy, visit the ASSP website.