Proper lockout/tagout practices and procedures protect workers from hazardous energy releases. OSHA established standards for the control of hazardous energy in Title 29 CFR Part 1910.147. This Standard addresses the practices and procedures required to safety disable machinery or equipment, preventing the release of hazardous energy that might harm employees who are performing servicing or maintenance activities. This standard outlines measures for controlling hazardous energy in many different types of sources.
There is another standard that addresses how to protect employees who work on electric circuits and equipment, and that is OHSA’s 29 CFR 1910.333. It reviews requirements such as lockout/tagout procedures that apply when employees are exposed to electrical hazards while working on or around conductors or systems that use eclectic energy.
Hazardous Energy Types
Types of Hazardous Energy include:
- Electrical;
- Mechanical;
- Hydraulic;
- Pneumatic;
- Chemical; and
- Thermal
Compliance Saves Lives
Employees who perform service or maintain machines or powered equipment may risk exposure to electrical current if the hazardous energy is not controlled. According to OSHA, any time a machine can inadvertently or unexpectedly be powered up or turned on and this would create a hazard, there should be a lockout/tagout procedure to keep the machine safe and guarded while not in use. Compliance with LO/TO procedures prevent hundreds of fatalities and tens of thousands of deaths each year.
Tailoring Energy Control Devices
Depending on the type of machine or equipment, employers should affix the appropriate lockout/tagout devices to isolate the energy or de-energize equipment to make it safe during service and/or maintenance. This is usually done by fitting LO/TO devices that make it impossible to turn on the equipment until the tag is removed. If a lockout device can be used, it should be used. Tagout devices may be used in place of lockout if they provide sufficient protection against the energy hazard.
Employer Responsibilities
Employes must ensure that there are energy control procedures in place, and that they are well documented and enforced. They must also use only LO/TO methods and devices that are durable, standardized, and substantial. These methods must identify the individual worker who locked out the machine, and that person should always double check that the energy if off before signing/initialing the device.
Employers should provide training for circumstances outside the normal operation of machinery and inspect the energy control procedures annually.
Workers’ Rights
In all workplaces, workers have the right to a safe and healthy workplace. If you think that there is a safety issue that needs to be addressed or corrected, suggest it to your employer and ask for it to be corrected. Remember, you have the right to file a complaint to OSHA without fear of retaliation.
IF IN DOUBT…LOCK/TAG IT OUT!!!
Download layer: SMOTW_1209_LO-TO Download Spanish flyer: SMOTW_1209_LO-TO_esp
