Controlling Hazardous Energy
University of Louisiana - Monroe
Lockout/Tagout
Control of Hazardous Energy
29 CFR 1910.147
The 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.
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Provisions Of The Standard
Requires employers to establish procedures for isolating
machines or equipment from their source of energy and
affixing appropriate locks or tags to energy isolating
devices
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Definitions
 Authorized employee: A person who locks out
or tags out machines or equipment in order to
perform servicing or maintenance
 Affected employee: A person whose job requires
him to operate or use a machine or equipment on
which servicing or maintenance is being performed
under lockout or tagout
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Definitions
 Energy isolating device: The mechanism that
prevents the transmission or release of energy and to
which locks or tags are attached
 Includes manually operated circuit breakers, disconnect
switches, line valves, blocks, and others
 Lockout: The placement of a lockout device on an
energy isolating device to ensure that the equipment
being controlled cannot be operated until the lockout
device is removed
 Tagout: The placement of a tagout device on an energy
isolating device to indicate the equipment being
controlled may not be operated until the tagout device is
removed
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Energy Sources
 are not limited to electrical oriented machinery, equipment
or processes, but will include any source of sudden energy
release which may be harmful; i.e., air pressure, heat, steam,
springs under tension or hydraulic systems.
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Responsibilities
 Supervisors
 Supervisors are responsible for the well-being and training of all
workers under their cognizance as well as ensuring that all
necessary safety procedures are followed. In any situation where
the worker refuses to follow recognized guidelines, the
supervisor will require the individual to leave the work area as
soon as possible. Disciplinary actions may be taken in
accordance with Human Resources standards.
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Responsibilities
 Employees
 Only employees who are qualified and authorized will service,
perform maintenance or make any adjustments to machinery,
equipment or processes having the aforementioned potential.
Work will not be performed in such a manner to bypass the
requirements of this standard. Workers who fail to comply may
be subject to disciplinary actions which may include dismissal
according to the seriousness of the particular incident.
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De-energizing Equipment
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Locate energy source and control method
Notify others, employees or anyone using facilities of the necessity for
using lockout/tagout procedures
Determine lockout and/or tagout energy controls to be applied in Off
or safe positions of switches, panels and breakers; if it is appropriate for
the job, position a person at the panel or at the controls to ensure
protection.
Test to verify energy has been isolated from equipment or exposed
working surfaces
Perform necessary adjustments, repairs or maintenance. When
completed, ensure that all covers, guards and protective devices are in
place
Re-energizing Equipment
 Ensure that machine or equipment
components are operationally intact
 Ensure that all employees are safely
positioned or removed from equipment
 Only the employee who applied the lock
or tag is authorized to remove it.
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Lockout/Tagout Requirements
 If an energy isolating device is not
capable of being locked out, the
employer’s energy control program shall
utilize a tagout system
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Lockout Requirements
 After January 1990, whenever
replacement, major repair, or
modification of a machine is performed,
or whenever new machines or equipment
are installed, they must be designed to
accept a lockout device
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Device Requirements
 Durable: Lockout and tagout devices must
withstand the environment to which they are
exposed for the maximum duration
 Standardized: Both lockout and tagout devices must
be standardized according to either color, shape, or size
 Tagout devices must also be standardized according
to print and format
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Device Requirements
 Substantial: Lockout and tagout devices must be
substantial enough to minimize early or accidental
removal
 Identifiable: Locks and tags must clearly identify the
employee who applies them.
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Tag Requirements
 Tags must also include a legend such as:
 Do not start
 Do not open
 Do not close
 Do not energize
 Do not operate
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Training and Communication
 Each authorized employee shall receive training in:
 Recognition of applicable hazardous
energy sources
 Type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace
 Methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control
 Each affected employee shall be instructed in the purpose and
use of the energy control procedure
 All other employees shall be instructed about the prohibition
relating to attempts to restart or reenergize machines or
equipment which are locked out or tagged out
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Training and Communication
 The employer shall certify that employee training has
been accomplished and is being kept up to date
 Certification shall contain employee names and dates of
training
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Group Lockout or Tagout
 Primary responsibility is vested in an authorized
employee for a set number of employees working under
the protection of a group lockout or tagout device
 Each authorized employee shall affix a personal lockout
or tagout device to the group lockout device
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Outside Personnel- Contractors
 Whenever outside servicing personnel are engaged in
activities covered by lockout/tagout, the on-site employer
and the outside employer shall inform each other of their
respective lockout or tagout procedures
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Lockout Device
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Group Lockout
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Tagout Tags
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Tagout Tag
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Lockout Signage
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