Duraclean Journal of Marketing, Management and Technical Topics

Following Specific Lockout/Tagout Procedures





The following article is a condensation from the "Safety News Alert" newsletter from BLR (http://www.blr.com). It provides information on implementation of a lockout/tagout program to prevent injuries.


Compliance with OSHA's Control of Hazardous Energy standard involves a variety of issues other than the basic lockout/tagout procedures. It's a comprehensive standard, and you need to comprehend all its requirements. Because you're probably already familiar with the basic lockout/tagout procedures, let's skip ahead to some lesser-known facts about lockout/tagout compliance.


Requirements for Locks and Tags
OSHA's lockout/tagout standard (29 CFR 1910.147) says that locks must have a key or combination and be:

• Durable enough to stand up to the work area's heat, cold, humidity, or corrosiveness.
• Strong enough so that they can be removed only with heavy force or tools like bolt cutters.
• Standardized by color, shape, and/or size throughout the facility.
• Identified with the name of the authorized employees who install and remove them.
• Tags must be placed at or near the power source where they're easy to see, and must be:
  - Unique and used only for this purpose.
  - Durable enough for area conditions and the amount of time they are used.
  - Strong enough so they can't be accidentally detached or torn.
  - Identified with the name of the authorized employees who install and remove them.
  - Legible, even if exposed to dirty, damp, or corrosive conditions.
  - Standardized throughout the facility in color, shape, or size, print, and format.
  - Attached with nylon cable ties or other means that can be attached by hand, are self-locking, can't be removed with less than 50 pounds of strength, and can't be reused.
  Need to do lockout/tagout training? Have little time to do it?

Shift Changes
When maintenance or repairs begin on one shift and end on another, employees must coordinate efforts to ensure a safe transfer of lockout/tagout protection. Your energy control program must spell out the steps for shift changes. It may, for example, require workers completing their shift to wait to remove their locks until workers on the next shift arrive and perform their own lockout.

Group Lockout
When groups perform service or maintenance, group members must follow individual lockout/tagout steps. In addition:

• One authorized employee is responsible for coordinating the work so that everyone is protected.
• Each authorized employee places and removes his or her own lockout and/or tagout device on the group lockbox or other lockout/tagout mechanism.

Lockout with Contractors
Require contractors to explain their lockout/tagout procedures so you can confirm that they're complying with OSHA standards and that their procedures are compatible with yours. Make sure that both your own employees and independent contractors coordinate activities and maintain communication. Make sure a qualified person from your organization is on hand to work with the contractor's supervisor to monitor the process and ensure the safety of all workers.

Labels: employees, Safety Compliance, Safety Management, Training