Lockout/Tagout Awareness

The control of hazardous energy is an essential practice within the industrial industry. There are energy sources including electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, etc. in machines and equipment that can be hazardous to workers.

Why is it so important?

• When an employee goes to service and complete maintenance of machines and equipment, the unexpected startup or release of stored energy could cause injury or even death.
• All sources of energy have the potential to unexpectedly start-up, energize, or release. Avoid injuries that may include electrocution, burns, crushing, cutting, lacerating, amputating, or fracturing body parts.
• The employees that service this type of equipment routinely are among 3 million workers that face the greatest risk of injury.
• A worker injured on the job from exposure to hazardous energy loses an average of 24 workdays for recuperation.
• Failure to control hazardous energy accounts for almost 10 percent of the serious accidents in many industries.
• Compliance with the lockout/tagout standard prevents an estimated 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries each year.

OSHA’s lockout/tagout standard establishes the employer’s responsibility to protect employees from hazardous energy sources on machines and equipment during service and maintenance.

• Develop, implement, and enforce an energy control program.
• Use lockout devices for equipment that can be locked out. Tagout devices may be used in lieu of lockout devices only if the tagout program provides employee protection equivalent to that provided through a lockout program.
• Ensure that new or overhauled equipment is capable of being locked out.
• Develop, implement, and enforce an effective tagout program if machines or equipment are not capable of being locked out.

There are some basic steps to follow to ensure that Lockout/Tagout is being performed correctly

1. Prepare for Shutdown - Locate energy sources and all lockout points for equipment
2. Notify affected employees that LOTO is going to be taking place
3. Shut down the equipment by its normal stopping precedure(s)
4. Disconnect power - Go to main lockout point and operate the disconnect switch, circuit breaker, or valve to disconnect the machine from its energy source
5. Apply locks and tags to locout point and keep possession of key
6. Drain stored energy - Bleed, restrain, block or ground equipment of stored energy
7. Test equipment - Clear the area and turn the machine on as if you were going to operate it.  If it doesn't come on, then you have sucessfully locked out the equipment and are ready to perform the maintenance/service/repair of the equipment.  Be sure to turn the switch back off before beginning work.

4 Types of Lockout Devices

Padlocks

• Safety lockout padlocks must be distinguishable from other locks, used only for lockout purposes and always be identifiable with the name of the person who applied the lock.

Tags

• Tags provide a warning against hazardous conditions that may occur if a piece of equipment is energized.

Devices

• Electrical lockout devices provide ways to secure the electrical power of machinery equipment in an “off” position.
• Multi-purpose cable lockout devices are used when a padlock or other fixed device doesn’t provide the flexibility required for proper lockout.
• Valve lockout devices supply compressed gases, liquids, steam and more in a facility. They conceal or physically prevent the valve’s operation.

Safety hasps

• Safety hasps permit multiple workers to apply padlocks to a single energy isolation point.

We've got it all!

Calolympic Safety has what you need for your Lockout/Tagout safety needs.

Resources

http://www.osha.gov/
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/controlhazardousenergy/
http://www.osh.net/articles/archive/osh_basics_2002_march28.htm
https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/factsheet-lockout-tagout.pdf
http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/lockout-tagout-solutions-2