DREMC Lock Out Tag Out Procedures
Revised 5-24-16
These procedures have been established by the Duck River EMC Lock Out Tag Out
Committee to provide a means for consistent and safe operation of the DREMC electric
distribution system.
These procedures are developed in accordance with the National Electrical Safety Code,
the OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269 and the APPA Safety Manual. These procedures have been
written so as to safeguard DREMC employees and the general public from the dangers of
hazardous energy.
Operation and maintenance on the DREMC electric system requires Qualified Personnel
to obtain Hold Orders and Caution Orders as needed.
The current list of Qualified Personnel is found in Appendix A to be updated annually
and is located in Dispatch. The tags and bungee sign to be used in connection with this
procedure are found in Appendices B and C.
Section 1.0
Definitions:
1. “A-Switch” – for the purpose of this safety tagging procedure, the
term “A-Switch” will have the same definition as a “Non-reclose”
and may also be referred to as “One Shot”.
2. “Bungee Sign” is a 10” x 12” vinyl sign for pole or breaker
attachment to provide a highly visible warning.
3. “Caution Order” there are two types:
Is the means used to ensure and document that all protective
devices, which could re-energize a section of line or piece of
equipment within a caution zone, have their automatic reclosing
function disabled and when required, are tagged at the device
location to prevent switching or reclosing by other personnel.
Is the means used to ensure and document that any equipment
including but not limited to structures with switching capabilities
are temporarily placed in a position other than normal, and when
required, is tagged at the equipment or structure location to
prevent switching by other personnel.
Any device tagged with a Caution Order Tag shall not be operated
until the Caution Order has been properly released.
4. “Caution Order Tags” are used to mark electrical equipment such
as circuit breakers, automatic circuit reclosers, or other protective
devices that are not to be reclosed in the event of an automatic trip
of the device. Caution Order Tags shall indicate that personnel are
at work on the circuit or equipment protected by the device that is
tagged.
Caution Order Tags may also be used to mark devices or
equipment that are placed in a position other than normal.
5. “De-energized” shall mean that the circuit, device, or line is
disconnected from all known sources of electrical supply by open
switches, jumpers, taps, and similar isolating equipment.
NOTE: De-energized lines or equipment could be electrically
charged or energized through various means, such as induction
from other energized circuits, generators, lightning, etc. Deenergized DOES NOT indicate that protective grounding is
installed. All de-energized conductors and equipment shall be
TREATED as energized until isolated, tested, and grounded.
6. DREMC Lock Out Tag Out Training Class – An annual training
class covering DREMC Lock Out Tag Out procedures.
7. “Energized” shall mean electrically connected to a source of
potential difference, or electrically charged so as to have a
potential significantly different from that of earth.
8. “Hold Order” is the means used to ensure and document that a
device or piece of equipment has been opened, checked-open, and
grounded for the purpose of working on that specific piece of
equipment or section of line.
Any device tagged with a Hold Order Tag shall have a visible
open point, shall be grounded, and shall not be operated until the
Hold Order has been properly released.
9. “Hold Order Tags” are used to mark electrical equipment such as
circuit breakers, automatic circuit reclosers, switches or other
devices that have been opened, checked-open, and grounded for
the purpose of working on a specific piece of equipment or
section of line.
10. “Non-reclose”- Non-reclose shall mean that protective devices
shall have the automatic reclosing function disabled. “Nonreclose” may be referred to as “A-Switch” or “One-Shot”.
11. “One Shot” – For the purpose of this safety tagging procedure, the
term “One Shot” will have the same definition as “Non-reclose”
and may also be referred to as “A-Switch”
12. “Qualified Personnel” or “Qualified Person” - Personnel who
have completed the DREMC Lock Out Tag Out Training Class.
13. “Qualified Personnel List” – A list of personnel who have
completed the annual DREMC Lock Out Tag Out Training Class.
14. “SCADA” shall mean Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition.
It is the electronic means to automatically and remotely control
the operation of breakers, switches, etc. and retrieve system data.
15. “Tag” shall mean an accident prevention tag of a distinctive
appearance used for the purpose of personnel protection to
indicate that the operation of the device to which it is attached is
restricted as described by the particular tag in place. The tag to be
used in connection with this procedure for field application is
found in Appendix B. The tag to be used for SCADA application
shall be an electronic marking placed at the point of control as per
SCADA operational procedure.
Section 2.0
Hold Order Procedures:
1. Purpose of Hold Order: A Hold Order shall be obtained for work on
any line segment or device that is to be considered de-energized with a
visible open point and grounded. Hold Orders ensure that open points
are documented, established and secured to prevent unintentional
energizing of equipment or lines. When a Hold Order is obtained for
the purpose of working on de-energized equipment, all disconnecting
devices that could energize the equipment or line section being worked
upon shall be open, checked open, and where practicable locked open
to render inoperable. When required, a Hold Order Tag must be
placed in accordance with paragraph 3 of this section. A device may
be covered under more than one hold order.
2. Enacting a Hold Order: Qualified Person shall notify system
dispatcher of Hold Order intent. System dispatcher shall issue a unique
Hold Order number for the request. The Qualified Person shall then
obtain the open point(s), install the necessary grounds, and when
required position the Hold Order Tag(s).
3. Positioning of Hold Order Tag: The Hold Order Tag shall be filled out
in its entirety by the Qualified Person requesting the Hold Order and
placed on the Bungee Sign which is attached to the pole or protective
device.
Proper Hold Order tagging, requires that all disconnecting devices that
could energize the equipment or line section being worked upon shall
be tagged.
If utilizing SCADA in the Hold Order process, an additional tag shall
be an electronic marking placed in SCADA at the point(s) of control as
per SCADA operational procedure.
4. Assignment of Hold Orders – In the event that control of a Hold Order
may need to be transferred to another Qualified Person, the original
holder or their supervisor may do so by notifying the system
dispatcher.
5. Releasing of Hold Order: A Hold Order can only be released by the
Qualified Person in charge of the Hold Order. The Qualified Person in
control of the Hold Order shall contact the system dispatcher for
release of the Hold Order, and then remove the Hold Order Tag.
Hold Order Tags placed by SCADA, shall be removed according to
SCADA operational procedure.
6. Releasing of Hold Order (Special Circumstances):
Should
circumstances arise that make it difficult or impossible for a Hold
Order to be released by the Qualified Person assigned to it, permission
must be obtained from the next level of management before the Hold
Order can be released.
NOTE (1):
If there is more than one crew working independently on the same
line segment or device, each crew shall obtain a separate Hold Order.
NOTE (2):
If multiple crews are working under a single supervisor or crew leader,
only one Hold Order is required.
NOTE (3):
All means of disconnection shall be tagged or be under the sole control
of the qualified person in charge of the Hold Order.
The means of disconnection that is under the sole control of the
qualified person in charge of the Hold Order, does not require the
positioning of a Hold Order Tag per OSHA 1910.269(m)(2)(iii).
NOTE (4):
Hold Order Tags used on electrical equipment such as circuit
breakers, automatic circuit reclosers, switches or other devices shall
be tagged with a fluorescent orange Bungee Sign at the structure
location to prevent switching by other personnel, unless the Hold
Order is obtained by SCADA.
Hold
Order
NOTE (5):
Concerning distribution transformers and secondary, OSHA 1910.269
(m)(iii) states that if only one crew will be working on the lines or
equipment and if the means of disconnection is accessible and visible
to and under the sole control of the employee in charge of the
clearance (meaning the employee who is disconnecting the line or
equipment), Hold Orders and Hold Order Tags are not required.
This allows for secondary work on transformers, services, etc. without
a Hold Order or a Hold Order Tag. OSHA 1910.269(m)(xiii) states
that no action may be initiated to reenergize the lines or equipment
until after all employees are clear of lines and equipment.
Section 3.0
Caution Order Procedures:
1. Purpose of Caution Order: To restrict the operation of protective
devices or other equipment and when required, visibly tag the device
accordingly to prevent unintentional operation of the device or
equipment.
2. Enacting a Caution Order: Qualified Person shall notify system
dispatcher of Caution Order intent. System dispatcher shall issue a
unique Caution Order number for the request. The Qualified Person
shall then enact the caution and when required, position the Caution
Order Tag(s).
3. Positioning of Caution Order Tag: The Caution Order Tag shall be
filled out in its entirety by the Qualified Person requesting the Caution
Order and placed on the Bungee Sign which is attached to the pole or
protective device.
If a Caution Order is secured through SCADA, the tag shall be an
electronic marking placed in SCADA at the point(s) of control as per
SCADA operational procedure.
4. Assignment of Caution Orders – In the event that control of a Caution
Order may need to be transferred to another Qualified Person, the
original holder or their supervisor may do so by notifying the system
dispatcher.
5. Releasing of Caution Order: A Caution Order can only be released by
the Qualified Person in charge of the Caution Order. The Qualified
Person in control of the Caution Order shall contact the system
dispatcher for release of the Caution Order, and then remove the
Caution Order Tag.
Caution Order Tags placed by SCADA, shall be removed according to
SCADA operational procedure.
6. Releasing of Caution Order (Special Circumstances):
Should
circumstances arise that make it difficult or impossible for a Caution
Order to be released by the Qualified Person assigned to it, permission
must be obtained from the next level of management before the
Caution Order can be released.
NOTE (1):
If there is more than one crew working independently on the same
line segment or device, each crew shall obtain a separate Caution
Order.
NOTE (2):
If multiple crews are working under a single supervisor or crew
leader, only one Caution Order is required.
NOTE (3):
A protective device or piece of equipment under the sole control of the
qualified person in charge of the Caution Order, does not require the
positioning of a Caution Order Tag.
NOTE (4):
Caution Order Tags used on structures which could re-energize a
section of line or piece of equipment within a caution zone and have
their automatic reclosing function disabled shall be tagged with a
fluorescent orange Bungee Sign at the device location to prevent
switching or reclosing by other personnel, unless the Caution Order is
obtained by SCADA.
NOTE (5):
Caution Order Tags used on structures with switching capabilities or
any other equipment which may be temporarily placed in a position
other than normal shall be tagged with a fluorescent green Bungee
Sign at the structure location to prevent switching by other personnel,
unless the Caution Order is obtained by SCADA.
Appendix B
Tag
Appendix C
Bungee Sign
Appendix C (cont)
Bungee Sign