Weekly Safety Meeting – Lockout / Tagout

Lockout/Tagout

There are many examples of people being seriously injured or killed by machinery and electrical equipment. Often, these tragedies happen because people carelessly try to repair or maintain the equipment without making sure its energy source has been shut off. Many times the accident happens when a worker restarts the machine, not knowing that another worker is on the machine. To prevent this type of tragedy, OSHA developed a standard that has very specific procedures for shutting off machinery, for making sure it can’t be operated after it’s been shut off, and for warning employees to stay away from potential hazards. These procedures are called “lockout/tagout.”

The key to lockout/tagout/ is to make sure that the equipment you are about to work on is completely shut down. Before you begin the shutdown, however, make sure you know what you’re dealing with. You must know the type and magnitude of the energy you’re working with as well as the potential hazards and the proper way to control that energy. Once you know that, you must inform all affected employees that you are going to shut down the machine.

LOTO Is Required When:

• Servicing or maintaining energized equipment;

• Safety guards are removed or bypassed; and

• A worker has to place any part of his body in the equipment’s point of operation.

Lockout:

Lockout means much more that simply shutting off a machine by throwing a switch. When a machine has been locked out, it means; all energy to the machine has been shut off (there may be more than one type of energy), any energy that has been stored has been released or blocked, and the machine is literally locked out and cannot be restarted or released accidentally.

In lockout, a lock is placed on the part of the machine that controls the energy, such as a circuit breaker, switch, or valve. The lock itself cannot be used for any other purpose. That means you can’t use just any lock you might find in the workplace to perform a lockout – in fact, all lockout locks shall be of the same appearance so people can easily recognize them for what they are (e.g., by color, brand, etc.). The lock must be strong and sturdy enough to stay in place until it’s time for it to be unlocked.

Most importantly, lockout can be performed only be employees who are trained and certified by the company to do so (known as “authorized” employees). The name of the authorized employee should appear on the lock or tag.

Affected employees are those whose job requires them to operate equipment or be in an area where lockout/tagout might be required. They need to understand lockout procedures and why they are important. They should know never to perform a lockout themselves or try to restart locked out equipment.

Procedures:

Lockout involves certain specific procedures, including:

1. NOTIFY – Notify all affected employees that you are going to be conducting a lockout/tagout.

2. PREPARE – Before you begin, be sure you know all the types of energy involved, hazards presented by energy, and how to control the energy.

3. SHUTDOWN – Turn off machine or equipment.

4. ISOLATE – Isolate machine or equipment from its energy source(s). (For example, turn off main circuit breaker.)

5. LOCKOUT – Apply your lock. Be sure that it holds the isolating device in the “off” or “safe” position.

6. RELEASE – Release stored energy. Relieve, disconnect, restrain, block, or otherwise ensure that all energy sources – electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, compressed, etc. – are de-energized.

7. VERIFY – Try the on-off switch or other controls to be sure the machine won’t start. Return the switch to the “off” position.

Common causes of accidents:

• The machine or piece of equipment was not completely shut off before a maintenance or repair operation. Not only must the machine be turned off but also the power source that goes to it.

• The machine was turned on accidentally, either out of carelessness or because the person who turned it on didn’t realize that another worker was there and could get hurt.

• The machine wasn’t working correctly but wasn’t fixed, turned off, locked or tagged, and someone who didn’t know about the problem used it.

• Moving equipment wasn’t blocked.

• Safety procedures were inadequate or hadn’t been properly explained.

Remember the dangers and be on your guard around any machinery and moving equipment. Even if you don’t operate the machinery, you could get caught in it and injured if it isn’t properly disconnected. Ensure you know the hazardous energy associated with your equipment prior to doing any work on it.

Prevent accidental injury:

• Ensure you know all the energy that could affect the task (electricity, gravity, water, pneumatic, hydraulic, steam, etc.).

• Ensure you control the accidental release of the energy prior to working on the equipment through lockout, tagout, or alternative measures identified for your specific equipment.

• Never reach into moving equipment. In even the blink of an eye you could have a life changing injury.

• Test the energy after you believe it to be isolated. This is one of the most overlooked steps and probably the most important. Employees think they have isolated the energy at the source, but, for one reason or another, it isn’t.

• Be aware of your personal safety and the safety of others when working with or around moving equipment and machinery. Always follow proper lockout and tagout procedures, even for a quick or minor repair!

  If In Doubt…LOCK IT OUT!!!!!