1 Copyright 2008 Digital-2000 Inc.

1004AEPP LOCKOUT/TAGOUT – HAZARDOUS ENERGY SOURCE 2

3 Control of hazardous energy Control of hazardous energy sources is a requirement that organizations must implement for the safety of all employees. Before September of 1989, organizations used the lockout/tagout procedures to protect employees from machinery/equipment hazards during maintenance and repair.

4 Control of hazardous energy sources is the new concept with new requirements for the previous lockout/tagout program.

5 Control required for:  Hazardous energy sources  Electricity provides power Locking out electricity prevents electrical equipment from accidental release of electricity during maintenance or repair. Does not guarantee that other energy sources won’t be released.  Release of chemicals/chemical reactions MAY NOT Lockout out MAY NOT provide adequate protection during maintenance and repair.

6 Each machine/piece of equipment must be inspected by trained persons to determine adequate lockout procedures for all potential hazardous energy sources.  Energy sources must be identified and listed in the written lockout/tagout policy and procedures.

7 Categories of employees requiring knowledge/training in lockout/tagout procedures.  Authorized Employees  Maintenance personnel who use lockout/tagout procedures while they are repairing/maintaining equipment.  Affected Employees  Any employee who uses or works around equipment/machinery.

8 Exception to the lockout rule  Equipment connected only by an electrical cord and plug.  Lockout/tagout is unnecessary if there are no other hazardous energy sources.  The major requirement of cord and plug connected equipment is when cleaning, maintenance, or repair of such equipment is being done, the person performing the work must have control of the plug, thus, preventing the equipment from becoming re-energized during the servicing operation.

9 Normal Production Operations  Operation of equipment by machine operators. MACHINE GUARDING  Key safety factor is MACHINE GUARDING to protect machine operator.  When employees are protected by machine guarding or similar devices, lockout and tagout is not necessary. The employee has protection.

10 Servicing or Maintenance during Normal Production Operations  Requires maintenance persons to be protected by machine guarding.  If removed during this process, the servicing employee could expose hands, fingers, or other body parts to moving machine parts. Lockout/tagout procedures are then necessary.

11 Clearing jams is also another area of concern.  Good rule of thumb  Good rule of thumb – if an employee will be exposed to possible injury due to unexpected activation, release of energy or removal of machine guarding creating potential hazards, then lockout/tagout procedures must be used. You need to develop special procedures for each machine and all Authorized and Affected Employees must be trained in these procedures.

12 The next part of lockout/tagout procedures is an Inspection Process.  An inspection or audit to ensure employees are trained and knowledgeable on company policies and procedures are being used when required.  Documentation of audits/inspections is required.

13 The person conducting the audit should not be a person who is actually responsible for lockout/tagout procedures. Maintenance people who perform lockout/tagout procedures cannot conduct the audit.

14 If tagout is used without the use of lockouts  They must include more durable, weather-proofed tags  Tags must remain securely affixed to the equipment during servicing. Securely affixed appears to rule out flimsy or easily removed items such as string or other attaching devices.  The greatest limitation to tagout only is that it doesn’t secure the energy-isolating device and prevent the equipment from being re-energized.

15 Tagout is highly dependent on human factors and requires constant vigilance to ensure proper procedures are used. Employee training must be provided to ensure everyone is educated in tagout procedures. Employees must know what tagout means and that they are not to remove tags without authorization.

16 Retraining on at least an annual basis is mandatory. One major factor to be considered is how you can prove your tagout program is as effective as a Lockout/Tagout program.

17 Some machines may not be lockable. Equipment purchased after September 1, 1989 must be provided with a capability of being locked out if such design is feasible. Older equipment already in service which may be undergoing extensive repair, renovation, or modifications must also be provided with the capability of being locked out, if the design is feasible.

18 Lockout/tagout hardware is provided by the employer.  May only be used for lockout/tagout and cannot be used for any other purpose.  Pertains primarily to the tags, because lockout tags used for other purposes may dilute the meaning of the tag. The purpose of lockout/tagout is accident prevention.