Safety and Health Lockout/Tagout Procedure

Safety Manager

• Procedure development and maintenance.

• Authorization of lockout/tagout devices.

• Employee training.

• Annual inspections for compliance of procedures.

Supervisors

• Knowledge of lockout/tagout procedures.

• Enforcement of lockout/tagout procedures.

• Recognition when retraining is needed.

• Participates in development of specific job procedures.

Authorized Employees to Perform Lockout

• Understanding of purpose of lockout/tagout

• Understanding hazards of unexpected energizing of equipment.

• Can perform lockout/tagout.

Affected Employees—Employees in Area of Lockout/Tagout

• Understanding the importance of lockout/tagout and the importance of not attempting to remove a lockout/tagout device.

All authorized employees will receive specific lockout locks.

• The Safety Manager will issue approved locks. Locks will be standardized.

• The lock owner will receive only one key with the lock. The lock owner must maintain the key. The Safety Manager may maintain a master key but cannot use it without following lock removal procedures.

• The lock owner’s name will be engraved with his or her name.

• The employer will maintain a record of all assigned locks in the maintenance office and the Safety Manager’s office.

• Employees must not make duplicate keys.

• Multiple lock adapters will be available for all jobs requiring more than one safety lock.

Frequency

• During facility or job orientation

• Before new job assignment.

Affected Employee

• Purpose and function of energy control (lockout/tagout) program.

Authorized Employee

• Purpose and function of energy control (lockout/tagout) program.

• Recognition of type and magnitude of applicable hazardous energy sources.

• Methods and means for isolation and control of energy (lockout/tagout)

Record Keeping

• Maintained in the Safety Manager’s office.

Retraining

• When procedure inspection reveals non-compliance.

• Accidents due to non-compliance of procedures.

• Changes in lockout/tagout program

• Changes in equipment or machines.

Employee Notification

• Notify all affected employees that a lockout or tagout system is will be in use and inform them of the reason for lockout.

Preparation

• Locate all energy sources needing isolation.

Equipment Shutdown

• Shut equipment down by the normal stopping procedure (depress stop button, open toggle switch, etc.), if it is operating. Contact operator for shutdown procedures. Note: Do not use the electrical disconnect switch to stop equipment.

For electrical energy.

• Locate correct electrical disconnect switch and pull down the disconnect switch.

For mechanical energy.

• Allow mechanical energy, such as that in springs, elevated machine members or rotating flywheels to dissipate or restrain it by methods, such as repositioning or blocking.

For thermal, chemical, flammable, pneumatic, hydraulic where such energy is contained in lines or pipes.

• Close valves, disconnect lines, or install isolating "blanks".

Place assigned lock on disconnect switch, valve or other locking device.

• Each person shall place his/her lock on the locking device. The use of a single lock is not permissible to represent more than one employee unless management has established procedures for such a situation and the procedure will provide "at least as effective" protection to all employees working on that particular equipment.

If maintenance "crew" is conducting extensive equipment service or repair that will continue into the next shift, group lockout procedures shall be followed.

• Supervisor will assume responsibility or assign responsibility for group lockout.

• The "responsible" individual will follow equipment lockout procedure and install group lockout device.

• Each employee performing equipment servicing will install personal lockout device and remove personal lock when completing work. (This includes "responsible" individual installing group lock.)

• The group lock will remain on equipment throughout repair and the “responsible” individual is the only person who can remove it.

Release of Stored Energy

• It is mandatory to release, disconnect, restrain or otherwise make safe all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy. If servicing of hazardous chemical transfer lines occurs, lines must be flushed out, according to company (or manufacturer’s) procedures.

"Test Start"

• After assuring that no personnel have exposure, and as a check on having disconnected the energy sources, operate the push button or other normal operating controls to make certain the equipment will not operate.

If equipment meets one of the following criteria, follow the specific lockout procedures for that type of equipment:

• Equipment having more than one energy source.

• Equipment requiring more than one lockout device.

• Equipment lockout requiring multiple lockout box.

• A previous unexpected energizing accident occurred to that type of equipment.

• Equipment requiring tags rather than locks.

Restoring Locked Equipment

• Notify personnel in startup area.

• Clear all tools and repair equipment.

• Remove locking devices.

• Restore all isolating devices.

• Notify operating personnel of operation status.

Emergency Removal of Lock; Other Than By Installer

• Attempt to reach person who installed lock to determine equipment status.

• Notify security.

Security supervisor and maintenance supervisor will inspect equipment that requires starting.

• Review work order.

• Repair completed?

• Guards installed?

• Tools cleared from machinery?