Lockout Tagout

Introduction

This program is designed to meet the requirements of OSHA's standard 29 CFR 1910.147, The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout). The standard covers "the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment in which the 'unexpected' energization or start up of the machines or equipment, or release of stored energy could cause injury to employees." It requires the establishment of an energy control program that includes control procedures, employee training, and periodic inspections.

Scope and Application

The purpose of this Energy Control Program is to protect personnel from injury due to the unexpected energization of machinery or equipment while it is being serviced. It applies to all College employees and outside contractors who perform machine or equipment maintenance or repair activities covered by the standard. All College personnel in the area where work requiring the use of lockout/tagout is being performed must conform to the requirements of this program. If the work is being performed by a contractor, the College and contractor must inform each other of their lockout/tagout procedures and College employees must understand and comply with the contractor's restrictions and prohibitions.

The following activities are not covered by the standard nor this program:

• Normal operations, including repetitive, routine minor adjustments, that would be covered by OSHA's machine guarding standards.
• Work on cord and plug connected electric equipment when it is unplugged, and the worker has complete control over the plug.
• Hot tap operations involving gas, steam, water, or petroleum products where uninterrupted service is required or shutdown is impractical and documented procedures are followed to ensure worker safety.

Although the standard applies to many different energy sources (electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, etc.), machines and equipment in use at the College. Since it is conceivable that any member of Facilities O&M crews may be involved in servicing activities, the training sessions include the information required for certification as both an affected and authorized employee (see definitions below); all Facilities O&M staff must be trained in the Lockout/Tagout policies and procedures.

Program Description

General Requirements

A lockout/tagout device is required whenever there is the potential for unexpected energization or the release of energy from machinery or equipment being serviced.

Both affected and authorized personnel shall be trained (and retrained, as necessary) in this Energy Control Program.

Locks must be used whenever equipment can be locked out.

New or refurbished equipment must accommodate locks.

The lockout and tagout devices used shall be standardized in color, shape, or size and be of sufficient quality and durability to ensure their effectiveness. In addition, they must not be used for any other purpose.

Tagout procedures must be followed whenever locks cannot be applied. Tags shall be attached where the lockout devices normally would be used. If possible and practical, additional safety measures (such as removing/isolating a circuit, blocking a switch, or removing a valve handle) shall be used to achieve a level of safety equivalent to lockout.

A lockout/tagout device shall be removed only by the authorized employee who applied it.

Evaluation of the control methods shall be performed at least annually.

Definitions

The following definitions are quoted or paraphrased from the standard (1910.147, part b).

Affected Employee: An employee whose job requires that he/she operate or use a machine or equipment on which maintenance or service that falls under the Lockout/Tagout standard is performed, or whose job requires that he/she work in an area in which such work is performed.

Authorized Employee: "An employee who locks out or tags out machines or equipment in order to perform servicing or maintenance on that machine or equipment. An affected employee becomes an authorized employee when that employee's duties include performing servicing or maintenance covered under this . . . [standard]."

Capable of being locked out: "An energy isolating device is [capable of being locked out] if it has a hasp or other means of attachment to which, or through which, a lock can be affixed, or it has a locking mechanism built into it. . . . [Thus,] lockout can be achieved without the need to dismantle, rebuild, or replace the energy isolating device or permanently alter its energy control capability."

Energized: "Connected to an energy source or containing residual or stored energy."

Energy isolating device: "A mechanical device that physically prevents the transmission or release of energy. . . ." (For example, a manually operated electrical circuit breaker; a disconnect switch, a line valve, or a block.) "Push buttons, selector switches and other control circuit type devices are not energy isolating devices."

Energy Source: "Any source of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, or other energy."

Lockout: The use of a lockout device on an energy isolating device that will prevent the equipment being controlled from operating or releasing energy while it is in place.

Lockout Device: "A device that utilizes a positive means . . . to hold an energy isolating device in a safe position and prevent the energizing of a machine or equipment." It must be substantial enough to prevent removal without the use of excessive force or unusual techniques (e.g., using bolt cutters) and durable enough to withstand the conditions under which it will be used without deteriorating.

Servicing/Maintenance: "Workplace activities such as constructing, installing, setting up, adjusting, inspecting, modifying, and maintaining and /or servicing machines or equipment. These activities include lubrication, cleaning, and unjamming of equipment and/or machines and making adjustments or tool changes in areas where employees may be exposed to the unexpected energization or startup of the equipment or release of hazardous energy."

Tagout/Tagout Device: A label used as a warning device that does not provide a physical restraint from an accidental start-up. A tagout label is used only when lockout is impossible or impractical. The label must have the following characteristics:

• Is standardized in print and format and in either color, size, or shape.
• Can withstand the environmental conditions under which it is used without becoming illegible or otherwise deteriorating.
• Is securely attached by hand to the energy source(s) of the equipment being serviced by means of a non-reusable, self-locking, non-releasable (having a minimum unlocking strength of 50 pounds or greater) tie that is similar in design and "equivalent to a one-piece all-environment-tolerant nylon cable tie."
• Clearly identifies the authorized worker who attached it.
• Warns against hazardous conditions if the machine or equipment is energized.
• Includes a legend such as: Do Not Start, Do Not Open, Do Not Close, Do Not Energize, Do Not Operate.

Procedures for Lockout/Tagout

To safely apply energy control to machines or equipment using lockout/tagout devices, the authorized employee must perform the following procedures in order:

1. Prepare for Shutdown.
   The authorized employee understands the type, magnitude and hazards of the energy to be controlled and the way(s) in which it can be controlled.
2. Shutdown the machine/equipment to be worked on.
   Notify affected persons that a lockout/tagout device is about to be used, identifying the area and equipment affected. Turn off the machine/equipment following procedures that will not result in additional or increased hazards to workers.
3. Isolate the machine/equipment from its energy source(s).
   Locate all energy-isolating devices needed to control the energy source and use them to isolate the machine/equipment from the energy source(s).
4. Apply the Lockout/Tagout device(s).
   If lockout is used, apply the lock so that it will hold the energy isolating device in a safe or "Off" position. If tagout is used, securely attach the completed label directly to the energy isolating device, or if that is not possible, in a prominent location as close as safely possible to the device. The tagout label should clearly indicate that the energy isolating device is not to be moved from its safe or "Off" position.
5. Release any stored or residual energy that may be present.
6. Verify isolation.
   The authorized person must verify that the equipment to be serviced has been properly deenergized before starting to service it.

Note: If the authorized worker who placed the lockout/tagout device(s) leaves the service area, work may resume only after he returns and verifies that there is no energy flow.

To ensure the safe removal of the lockout or tagout devices, the authorized person must perform the following procedures in order:

1. Inspect the work area to be certain that tools, parts, and other nonessential items have been removed and that all of the machine/equipment components are operationally intact.
2. Notify all affected personnel that the lockout/tagout devices are being removed and ensure that they are safely positioned or have left the area.
3. Remove the lockout/tagout device(s).
   Each device shall be removed only by the authorized person who installed it.
4. Re-energize the serviced machine/equipment.

In the event that the authorized person who attached the device(s) is not available, the device(s) may be removed under the supervisor's direction, provided that:

• The authorized employee's absence has been verified.
• Every reasonable effort has been made to contact the authorized employee and advise him/her that the device is being removed.
• The authorized employee is immediately informed of the emergency removal upon his/her return.

When a group is performing servicing and/or maintenance, the protection used must afford the workers the same level of protection as that provided by a personal lockout/tagout device. The following modifications to the above procedures must be made:

1. A single authorized employee shall assume responsibility for all employees working under the group lockout/tagout device. This employee must determine the exposure status of the individual group members.
2. If more than one crew is involved, only authorized persons in each crew may apply the lockout/tagout device(s) and each device may be removed only by the person who applied it. Application and removal of the lockout/tagout device(s) shall be coordinated by the responsible employee designated in (1) above.

Spot Check Evaluations are used to ensure that the Lockout/Tagout procedures are being implemented properly and that any deviations or procedural inadequacies that are found are corrected. These inspections must be performed at least annually and may be performed by the authorized Supervisor or authorized personnel in the Public Health & Environmental Safety (PHES) Office.

PHES has developed a "Spot Check Evaluation" form (PDF, ) that includes all elements required by the standard. A printable version can be downloaded from our Forms section below. If you have questions regarding the form or conducting an inspection, please contact Public Health & Environmental Safety.

All facilities O&M personnel must be trained in Lockout/Tagout procedures. Training will include the purpose and the use of the lockout/tagout procedures, recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available, and the way(s) in which the energy can be isolated and controlled.

Refresher courses will be provided annually. In addition, retraining will be given under any of the following circumstances:

• There is a change in job assignments.
• There is a change in the machines, equipment, or processes used that creates a new hazard.
• New or revised energy control methods and procedures have been incorporated into the College's Energy Control Program.
• Inspections reveal that there are deviations from, or inadequacies in, the employee's understanding or use of the lockout/tagout procedures.

Online training is available in workday.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

For More Information

To request additional information, an evaluation, or other assistance regarding MC's Energy Control Program and lockout/tagout procedures, contact Public Health & Environmental Safety at  x. 74266.

• Lockout -Tagout Training Handout (PDF, )
• Lockout/Tagout Spot Check Evaluation (PDF, )

Additional information on Lockout/Tagout and links to the other resources may be found on OSHA's Lockout/Tagout Training Programnew window web page.