LOCKOUT/TAGOUT

By Steve Johnson
Airways Systems, Inc.

Lockout/Tagout is covered in section 1910.147, under subpart J (General Environmen­tal Controls) of 29 CFR 1910. Of course, 29 CFR 1910 is the OSHA regulations pertaining to General Industry. The equipment in which unexpected energization or startup of the machines or equipment or the release of stored energy could cause injury to employees.

For those of us in the grease exhaust cleaning business this basically means we have to con­trol the electrical and thermal energy with which we typically work. This control is accom­plished by the use of lockout devices and tagged devices.

Locks, tags or other hardware are placed on energy isolating de­vices, (preferably a disconnect box, circuit breaker or other shutoff device) that can be locked to accomplish this end. Lockout is the preferred method of isolating the energy but if an energy isolat­ing device is not capable of being locked out, the employers pro­gram shall utilize be provided by the employer, shall be constructed and printed so that exposure to weather conditions will not cause the tag to deteriorate or the mes­sage on the tag to become illeg­ible. The locks and tags must be standardized, substantial, and identifiable to the employee ap­plying the device. Tagout attach­ment means shall be of a nonreus­able type, attachable by hand, self locking and non-releasing, like nylon cable tie. Tags shall include a warning such as Do Not Start or Do Not Operate.

Under 1910.147, employers are required to establish a program consisting of energy control pro­cedures, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that where the unexpected energizing, start up or release of stored en­ergy occur and cause injury, the equipment shall be isolated from the energy source, and rendered inoperative.

These procedures shall clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules and techniques to be used for the control of hazardous energy and the means to enforce compliance. These procedures must contain:

1.    A specific statement of the intended use of the procedure.

2.    Procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing equipment to control hazardous ergy.

3.    Procedural steps for the placement, removal and transfer of lockout devices and the responsibility for them.

4.    Specific steps for testing a machine or equipment to determine and verify the effectiveness of the energy control measures.

The lockout/Tagout program must include the provision for a periodic inspection of the energy con­trol procedures are being followed. The inspection must be preformed by an authorized employee other than the ones utilizing the energy control procedures being inspected. Any deviations or inadequacies must be identified and corrected. The inspector must review with each authorized employee the results of the inspection and must certify that the inspection was preformed with the procedure being inspected, the date of the inspection, the employees included in the inspected, and the name of the inspector.

The training portion of the Lockout/ Tagout program must insure that the purpose and func­tion of the energy control program is understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and re­moval of the energy controls are required by the employees. The training portion of the program must include the recognition of applicable hazard­ous energy sources and the means necessary for energy isolation and control. All other employees whose work may be in the area where energy con­trol may be used, shall be instructed about the procedure, and about the prohibition relating to attempts to restart or reenergize equipment that is locked out or tagged out. Employees must also be trained in the concept that tagged does not pro­vide the physical restraint on the isolating devices that locks do. Even though tags must securely at­tached to the energy isolating devises, (so that they cannot be inadvertently or accidentally detached during use) they may evoke a false sense of secu­rity. Retraining of employees is required when there is a charge in their job assignments, a change in procedures or when a periodic inspection indi­cates a deviation in procedures or when a periodic inspection indicates a deviation in the use of or knowledge of the procedures. The training and retraining portions of the pro­gram must be certified too, just as periodic inspections are.

The procedural steps and sequence of them, necessary for a Lockout/ Tagout pro­gram include:

1.    Notification of Employees: Af fected employees and affected employees of the host company shall be notified of the applica tion and removal of lockout or tagout devices before the contls are applied and after they are removed.

2.    Preparation for Shutdown: The affected employee shall have knowledge of the magnitude, the hazards, and the method or means to control energy.

3.    Equipment Shutdown: The equipment shall be turned off according to the proper proce dures for shutting down or turning off the specific piece of equipment .

4.    Equipment Isolation: All energy isolating devices that are needed to control the energy to the equipment shall be physically located and operated to isolate the equipment from the energy source(s).

5.    Lockout device application: Lockout or tagout devices shall be affixed to each energy isolat ing device by authorized em ployees.

6.    Stored Energy Following the application of lockout devices to the energy isolating devices, all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy shall be re lieved, disconnected, restrained, and otherwise rendered safe.

7.    Verification of Isolation: Prior to starting work on the equipment that has been locked out or tagged out, The authorized employee shall verify that isolation and deenergization of equipment has been accomplished.

Once the work on the poten­tially hazardous equipment is complete, but before the lock­out &/or tagout devices are removed and the energy re­stored, the following proce­dures must be followed.

1.    The work area shall be inspected to ensure nonessential items & equipment components are in tact.

2.    The work area shall be checked to insure all employees are in a safe position.

3.    Each lockout/tagout device shall be removed from each energy isolating device by the employee who applied it.

There are a couple of other im­portant points that must be covered in a Lockout/ Tagout program

When outside servicing personnel are engaged in work that requires lockout/ tagout, the onsite employer and the outside employer shall inform each other of their respective lockout/ tagout procedures.

When servicing personnel are engaged by a crew or other group, they shall use a procedure which affords the employee a level of protection equal to that provided by the implementation of a per­sonal lockout/tagout device. Un­der a group lock box or compa­rable mechanism when he begins work, and shall remove those devices when he stops working on that piece of equipment.

This is the short version of the lockout tagout OSHA regulations. The points that can not be forgotten are: Every company must have a written lockout/tagout program. Each employee must be trained. Each employee must use his or her personal (supplied by the em­ployer) lock. No one can put on or remove another persons lock or tag. After the equipment has been locked out, it must be verified by attempting to turn it on with the switch or button. A minimum of one inspection of the program and procedures must be accomplished annually. Everything has to be certi­fied in writing.

This article appeared in the Summer 1997 edition of The Scratch Pad