Why Has Lock-out/Tag-out Remained an OSHA Top 10 Violation?
Failure to establish program(1910.147(c)(1)), Failure to develop procedures for energy control(1910.147(c)(4)(i)), Failure to conduct employee training(1910.147(c)(7)(i)), Failure to conduct periodic inspections(1910.147(c)(6)(i)), and Failure to have adequate procedures(1910.147(c)(4)(ii)). Year over year lock out tag out has remained one of the most cited violations by OSHA, so why do you continue to make the same mistakes expecting a different outcome? Perhaps the root cause of the continued noncompliance is as simple as not knowing what exactly it takes to become compliant. Let’s break it down a litte further.
When creating a compliant lock out tag out program for your facility you should pay close attention to:
- Clearly and specifically outlining the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance
- Outline proper procedures for each machine individually
- Steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines
- Steps for the placement, removal and transfer of lockout devices
- Specific requirements for testing a machine or equipment to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices
- What hardware will be provided by the employer for isolating, securing or blocking of machines or equipment from energy sources.
- All Lockout devices and tagout devices are specified for a singular use
With such an intricate system it is easy to over look a step within the process. As a means of double checking your work, make sure that after you have created an effective plan for your facility that you seek out additional opinions from employees, an OSHA consultation, or other managers. Be sure to train your employees thoroughly on the protocol you have put into place and keep a regular routine of reviewing and updating your procedures to make sure you never fall behind with new updates to compliance regulations.
For more information on lock out tag out standards visit: https://1.usa.gov/1F3Inny