The Basics of Lockout/Tagout
What is Lockout/Tagout?
OSHA Standard CFR 1910.147 was developed to ensure before any employee performs any servicing/maintenance on a machine or equipment where unexpected energizing, start up or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source, and rendered inoperative.
Why is it important?
Two main reasons: to keep equipment maintenance/servicing safe and it’s vital for keeping your workers alive!
Who does this standard apply to?
- Applies to the control of energy during machine or equipment servicing and/or maintenance
- Servicing that takes place under normal production operations that requires removal or bypassing of a guard or other safety device or when an employee places any body part near a point of operation (any dangerous moving parts).
Who is responsible for a safe working environment?
Every person at the facility!
What are the requirements?
1) Establishing Energy Control Procedures
3) Periodic Inspections
What is an energy source?
Any source of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, or stored energy.
What are the lockout steps?
1) Notify all affected employees that servicing or maintenance is to be performed. Ensure that all employees are aware that the equipment will be shut down and locked out during the time period.
2) Refer to your documented procedure for locking down the particular piece of equipment. This should include: description of the types of energy involved, magnitude of the energy, hazards involved and methods used to control the energy.
3) Shut down the machine using normal stopping procedure.
4) De-energize the machine and use energy isolating devices.
5) Lock-out the energy isolating devices with assigned individual locks.
6) Dissipate or restrain all stored or residual energy.
7) While keeping employees away from the machinery, verify effectiveness of lockout by trying to activate the machine with any of the controls, confirming that the machine will not operate.
8) The machine is now locked out.
What lockout/tagout products are available at Emedco?
Lock-out Tags– Standard lock-out tags, Photo ID, 2-Part, Key Tags, Self Fastening, Self Laminating, Specialty, or choose Custom
Padlocks– Huge Master® and American Lock® padlock selection that is in-stock and ready to ship Today!
Lockout devices– Hasps, Universal Lock-Out, Electrical plugs and breakers, Valves, Pneumatic & other specialty
Group Lock Boxes– Combination, Wall Mount, Portable or Modular.
Lockout Cabinets, Stations & Storage– Lockout and padlock cabinets, Racks, Carts and Tool Boxes
Other Lockout products– Stations, Kits, ESD products and Tapes
Lockout and Electrical Training– VHS or DVD Lockout Training Kits, Handbooks, Procedure Binders/Stations, Group Lockout Instructional Signs, Arc Flash Awareness Wall Charts, Wallet Card (including bilingual)
Make Emedco your One-Stop Safety Source- Your Way, Today, Guaranteed!
-Donna Kolody