This policy provides a procedure that establishes requirements for lockout/tagout of machinery and equipment to protect personnel from hazards and injuries that may occur as the result of unexpected release of an energy source during repair or maintenance.
Authorized and
Affected Personnel
Authorized - Only personnel who have been trained and demonstrated proficiency to perform lockout/tagout procedures will be allowed to perform these procedures.
Affected - Any employee who operates machinery and/or equipment, or is subject to locations where lockout/tagout procedures are performed. Affected personnel will be trained to recognize and understand our lock-out procedures.
Training
Management will provide training to ensure the purpose and function of the lockout/tagout procedure are understood by all employees and will include the following:
Each authorized, affected, and/or qualified employee will be trained in the recognition of hazards, type and magnitude of energy and electrical, and the methods necessary for energy isolation and control.
Each affected and other employees will be trained in the purpose, and recognition, of the lockout/tagout procedure. In addition, each affected employee will be trained to visually quick-check his or her work station at the start of each shift looking especially for:
Missing or damaged guards.
Exposed electrical connections, exposed un-insulated or damaged wiring, missing or open enclosures, etc.
Leaking or damaged piping, hose, reservoirs, etc.
Any item noted will be immediately reported to his or her supervisor and lockout/tagout procedures put in place until they are corrected.
All employees will be familiarized with the hazards and danger relative to attempting to restart a machine or equipment which is locked or tagged out. They will also be familiarized with the purpose of the program, location of this program and procedures.
Each employee trained will be certified as having received the training and a clear understanding what is required of them.
RETRAINING will be provided for all authorized and affected employees whenever there is a change in their job assignments, a change in machines, equipment or processes that present a new hazard, or when there is a change in the energy control procedures as outlined below.
Additional retraining shall also be conducted whenever periodic inspection reveals, or whenever the employer has reason to believe, that there are deviations from or inadequacies in the employee’s knowledge or use of the energy control procedures.
The retraining will re-establish employee proficiency and introduce new or revised control methods and procedures, as necessary. The safety coordinator will document that employee training has been accomplished and is being kept up-to-date. The documentation shall contain each employee’s name and dates of training.
Lockout and Tagout
Device Requirements
Our devices are:
Identifiable: Each lock must be identified as to its owner. The identification can be an ID tag, ID stamped on the lock, etc.
Used only for controlling energy.
Durable for the exposed environment for the maximum period of time the machine or equipment is locked out or tagged out.
Standardized throughout the facility in one of the following criteria: Color, Size, or Shape.
Substantial: Lockout devices (i.e., padlocks) must be incapable of being removed with using excessive force.
Tagout devices (i.e., tags) must be attached in such a way to prevent accidental removal. The attaching device must be self-locking and non-reusable and shall warn against hazardous conditions.
Tags
Lockouts are preferred to tagouts, however, there may be instances where this is not possible. When the use of tags is the only means of energy isolation, Hillsboro employees will be instructed in its limited ability to provide the same protection that a lockout provides. When tags are used, the same restrictions apply as with the locks even though the removal of the tags are easier. It will be stressed to all employees the importance of the tagout policy and the importance of following all rules and regulations regarding this policy. (When tags are used, level of safety will be equivalent to lockout procedures).
APPLICATION OF CONTROL MEASURES
Preparation For
Shutdown
Before authorized or affected employees tum off a machine or equipment the authorized employee will have knowledge of the type and magnitude of the energy; the hazards of the energy to be controlled, and the means to control the energy.
Machine Or Equipment
Shutdown
The machine or equipment will be shut down using the specific procedures for that specific machine. An orderly shutdown will be utilized to avoid any additional or increased hazards to employees as a result of equipment de-energization.
Machine Or Equipment
Isolation
All energy control tagout devices will be affixed to energy isolating devices by authorized employees. Lockout devices will be affixed in a manner that will hold the energy isolating device in a “safe” or “off’ position.
Where tagout devices are used, they will be affixed in such a manner that will clearly state that the operation or the movement of energy isolating devices from the “safe” or “off” position is prohibited.
The tagout devices will be attached to the same point a lock would be attached. If the tag cannot be affixed at that point, the tag will be located as close as possible to the device in a position that will be immediately obvious to anyone attempting to operate the device.
Stored Energy
Following the application of the lockout or tagout devices to the energy isolating devices, all potential or residual energy will be relieved, disconnected, restrained, and otherwise rendered safe.
Verification Of
Isolation
Prior to starting work on machines or equipment that have been locked or tagged out, the authorized employee will verify that isolation or de-energization of the machine or equipment has been accomplished.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR PERSONNEL COVERED BY THE ELECTRICAL LOCKOUT/TAGOUT STANDARD
A tag used without a lock as permitted by 29 CFR 1910.333 (b) (2) (iii) (C) will be supplemented by at least one additional safety equivalent to that obtained by the use of a lock, including the removal of an isolating circuit element, blocking of a controlling switch, or opening of an extra disconnecting device.
Qualified personnel will use the test equipment to test the circuit elements and electrical parts of equipment to which employees will be exposed and will verify that the circuit elements and equipment parts are de-energized. The tests will also determine if any energized condition exists as a result of inadvertently induce voltage or unrelated voltage backfeed even though specific parts of the circuit have been de-energized and presumed to be safe. If the circuit to be tested is over 600 volts, the test equipment will be checked for proper operation immediately after the test.
Procedure Involving
More Than One Person
If more than one individual is required to lockout tagout a machine or piece of equipment, each individual shall have his/her own personal lockout and/or tagout device on the energy isolating device(s). When an energy isolating device cannot accept multiple locks or tags, a multiple lockout or tagout device (hasp) may be used.
Lockout Or Tagout
Device Application
When Lockout or Tagout is used, a single lock may be used to lockout the machine or equipment with the key being placed in a lockout box or cabinet which allows the use of multiple locks to secure it. Each employee will then use his/her own lock to secure the box or cabinet. As each person no longer needs to maintain his/her lockout protection, that person will remove his/her lock from the box or cabinet.
Testing Or
Positioning Of Machines/Equipment
In situations in which lockout/tagout devices must be temporarily removed from the energy isolating device and the machine/equipment energized to test or position the machine/equipment or component thereof, the following sequence shall be followed:
Ensure tools/materials are clear of machine/equipment.
Employees are removed from area.
Remove lockout/tagout devices.
Energize and proceed with testing or positioning.
De-energize all systems and re-apply energy control measures if further repairs are required.
Release From Lockout
Or Tagout
Before lockout or tagout devices are removed and the energy restored to the machine or equipment, the following actions will be taken:
The work area will be thoroughly inspected to ensure that non-essential items have been removed and that machine or equipment components are operational.
The work area will be checked to ensure that all employees have been safely positioned or removed. Before the lockout or tagout devices are removed, the affected employees will be notified that the lockout or tagout devices are being removed.
Lockout Or Tagout
Device Removal
Each lockout or tagout device will be removed from each energy isolating device by the authorized employee who applied the device.
An authorized employee will assume responsibility of the entire crew in these instances so as to ascertain the exposure status of each crew member and ensure continuity of protection.
Shift Or Personnel
Changes
To ensure the continuity of the lockout or tagout protection, including provision for the orderly transfer of lockout or tagout devices between off-going and oncoming employees, the off-going authorized employee will communicate to the oncoming authorized employee which machine or equipment is locked and/or tagged out and the reason. The lockout or tagout device(s) of the off-going authorized employee will be replaced by the oncoming authorized employee lockout or tagout device(s). The Safety Coordinator will be in charge when these changes occur and will assume the responsibility for maintaining control over and coordinating the change(s).