Lockouts & tagouts
STANDARDS & APPLICATIONS
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: Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
OSHA’s LOCKOUT / TAGOUT standard, 29 CFR & 1910.147 &
1910.269 are designed to prevent needless deaths and serious
injuries to service and maintenance personnel by controlling
unauthorized or accidental use of energy.
To perform service and maintenance work on industrial
equipment safety, you must understand the importance of
energy control and OSHA’s LOCKOUT / TAGOUT standard.
You must also know how to apply energy isolation and
LOCKOUT / TAGOUT.
29 CFR : General Industry Standard
1910.147 : The control of hazardous energy (Lockout/Tagout).
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International Organization for Standardization
Lockout/Tagout are manufactured in ISO 9000. |
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This standard covers the servicing and maintenance of machines
and equipment in which the unexpected energization or start up
of the machines or equipment, or release of stored energy could
cause injury to employees.
This standard establishes minimum
performance requirements for the control of such hazardous
energy.
1910.269 : Electric Power Generation, Transmission and
Distribution. This section covers the operation and maintenance
of electric power generation, control, transformation,
transmission, and distribution lines and equipment.
Use ANSI Z358.1-1998 for guidance on compliance.
What is Lockout/Tagout ?
A LOCKOUT is a method of keeping equipment from being set in motion and endangering workers.
- A disconnect switch, circuit breaker, valve or other energy isolation mechanism is put in the safe or off position.
- A device is often placed over the energy-isolating mechanism to hold it in the safe position.
This is where LOCKOUT / TAGOUT products are essential
- A lock is attached so that the equipment can’t be energized. In a TAGOUT, the energy-isolating device is placed in the safe position
and a written warning is attached to it. All lockout and tagout materials are supplied by the employer.
Each device must be :
- Durable, to withstand wear.
- Substantial, so it won't come off easily.
- Capable of identifying the person who applied it.
Many companies issue each worker authorized to apply LOCKOUT/TAGOUT their own personal lock imprinted with his name.
When should you Lockout/Tagout ?
LOCKOUT / TAGOUT is necessary whenever you are performing service or maintenance in proximity to a machine where you could be
injured by:
- Unexpected start up of the equipment.
- Release of stored energy.
Two situations are most likely to need LOCKOUT / TAGOUT :
- When you must remove or bypass a guard or other safety device.
- When you must place any part of your body where you could be caught by moving machinery.
Some jobs for which LOCKOUT / TAGOUT should be used are :
- Repairing electrical circuits.
- Cleaning or oiling machinery with moving parts.
- Clearing jammed mechanisms.
OSHA lets each employer use LOCKOUT / TAGOUT or both. It’s your responsibility to follow whichever system has been chosen for
your workplace. Locks and Tags by themselves do not de-energize equipment. Attach them only after the machinery has been isolated
from its energy sources.
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