CHAPTER 12 - LOCK-OUT / TAG-OUT PROGRAM
A. INTRODUCTION 1
B. DEFINITIONS 1
C. CHAPTER-SPECIFIC ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 3
1. The Safety Coordinator 3
2. Supervisors and/or building manager 3
3. Employees 4
4. The building manager 4
5. OFMR (Office of Facilities Management and Reliability) 4
D. HAZARD IDENTIFICATION 4
1. Forms of Hazardous Energy 5
2. Servicing and/or Maintenance Operations Hazards 5
E. HAZARDOUS ENERGY CONTROL PROCEDURES 6
1. General Procedures for Authorized Employees 6
2. Energy Isolation 6
3. Exclusive Control of Cord and Plug Connected Equipment 6
4. Notification of Employees 6
5. Tagout 6
6. Preparation for Lockout or Tagout 7
7. Sequence of Lockout Tagout System Procedures 7
8. Electrical Lockout 8
9. Procedures Involving More Than One Person 8
10. Removal of Lockout or Tagout Device by Others 9
11. Group Lockout/Tagout 9
12. Shift or Personnel Changes 10
13. Additional Safety Requirements 11
14. Testing or Positioning of Machines 11
15. Tenant Organization or Contractor Lockout/Tagout Requirements 11
16. Protective Materials, Hardware, and Tags 11
F. TRAINING 12
1. Initial Training 12
2. Employee Retraining 12
G. REQUIRED INSPECTIONS 13
1. Routine Inspections 13
2. Periodic Inspections 13
H. RECORDS AND REPORTS 14
I. REFERENCES 14
Attachment 1: LOCKOUT/TAGOUT CERTIFICATE………………...………………….....15
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CHAPTER 12 - LOCK-OUT / TAG-OUT PROGRAM
A. INTRODUCTION
1. The purpose of a program to control hazardous energy is to ensure effective implementation, operation, and recordkeeping of the Smithsonian Institution’s lockout/tagout (LO/TO) program in compliance with 29 CFR 1910.147. This program establishes minimum performance requirements for the control of such hazardous energy.
2. This program applies to 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.
3. The provisions of this LO/TO Program shall apply to all personnel working for the Smithsonian Institution who service, maintain, or operate machines and equipment with stored energy that could cause injury.
4. Exclusions. This Chapter does not apply to the following:
a. Work on cord and plug-connected electric equipment for which exposure to the hazards of unexpected energization or start up of the equipment is controlled by the unplugging of the equipment from its single energy source and by the plug being under the exclusive control (note definition below) of the one and only employee performing the servicing;
b. Minor tool changes and adjustments, and other minor servicing activities, which take place during normal production operations, if they are routine, repetitive, and integral to the use of the equipment, provided that the work is performed using alternative measures which provide effective protection,
c. Hot tap operations involving transmission and distribution systems for substances such as gas, steam, water, or petroleum products when they are performed on pressurized pipelines, provided that the supervising department has included in their written procedures that the reason for exclusion is that (1) continuity of service is essential; (2) shutdown of system is impractical; and (3) documented procedures are followed, and special equipment is used which will provide proven, effective protection for employees.
d. Construction will adhere to Subpart K of CFR 1926.
B. DEFINITIONS
1. Affected employee - An employee whose job requires him/her to operate or use a machine or equipment on which servicing or maintenance is being performed under lockout or tagout, or whose job requires him/her to work in an area in which such servicing or maintenance is being performed.
2. Authorized employee - A person who has been trained per the requirements of this Chapter and locks or implements a tagout system procedure on machines or equipment to perform the servicing or maintenance on that machine or equipment. An authorized employee and an affected employee may be the same person when the affected employee‘s duties also include performing maintenance or service on a machine or equipment, which must be locked, or a tagout system implemented.
Note: “Authorized Employee” designation does not mean that the employee is able to safely lockout and tagout all machinery and equipment of the employer. Employee is authorized on machinery and equipment on a case-by-case basis as ability and knowledge dictate.
3. Capable of being locked out - An energy-isolating device will be considered to be capable of being locked out if either it has a locking mechanism built into it, or if it is designed with a hasp or other attachment or integral part to which, or through which, a lock can be affixed. Other energy-isolating devices will also be considered capable of being locked out if lockout can be achieved without the need to dismantle, rebuild, or replace the energy-isolating device or permanently alter its energy control capability.
4. Energized - Connected to an energy source or containing residual or stored energy.
5. Energy-isolating device - A mechanical device that physically prevents the transmission or release of energy, including, but not limited to a manually operated electrical circuit breaker or a disconnect switch. The term does not include a push button, selector switch, and other control circuit-type devices.
6. Energy source - Any source of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, or other energy.
7. Hot tap - A procedure used in the repair, maintenance, and servicing activities, which involves welding on a piece of equipment (pipelines, vessels, or tanks) under pressure, in order to install connections or appurtenances. It is commonly used to replace or add sections of pipeline without the interruption of service for air, gas, water, steam, and petrochemical distribution systems.
8. Lockout - The placement of a lockout device on an energy-isolating device, in accordance with an established procedure, ensuring that the energy-isolating device and the equipment being controlled cannot be operated until the lockout device is removed by the person who placed it on.
9. Lockout device - A device that utilizes a positive means such as a lock, either key or combination type, to hold an energy-isolating device in a safe position and prevent the energizing of a machine or equipment by anyone other than the person who placed the lock on.
10. Normal operations - The utilization of a machine or equipment to perform its intended production function.
11. Servicing and/or maintenance - Workplace activities such as constructing, installing, setting up, adjusting, inspecting, modifying, and maintaining and/or servicing machines or equipment. These activities include lubrication, cleaning or un-jamming of machines, equipment and making adjustments, or tool changes, where the employee may be exposed to startup of the equipment or release of hazardous energy.
12. Setting up - Any work performed to prepare a machine or equipment to perform its normal production operation.
13. Tagout - The placement of a tagout device on an energy-isolating device, in accordance with an established procedure, to indicate that the energy-isolating device and the equipment being controlled may not be operated until the tagout device is removed.
14. Tagout device - A prominent warning device, such as tag and a means of attachment, which can be fastened securely to an energy-isolating device, in accordance with an established procedure, to indicate that the energy-isolating device and the equipment being controlled may not be operated until the tagout device is removed.
15. Zero energy state – Not connected to an energy source or containing residual or stored energy.
C. CHAPTER-SPECIFIC ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. The Safety Coordinator will:
a. Ensure supervisors are responsible for conducting a hazard assessment of his/her area of control to determine whether the lockout/ tagout program applies to the processes and equipment in his or her area.
b. Keep copies of and provide a METR team documentation of the annual certification of their LO/TO program and initial and retraining of authorized and affected employees per the training section of this Chapter.
2. Supervisors and/or building manager will:
a. Develop, document and ensure use of energy control procedures to control potentially hazardous energy before workers perform service or maintenance activities covered by the Lockout/Tagout Program.
Exception: The employer need not document the required procedure for a particular machine or equipment, when all of the following elements exist:
(1) The machine or equipment has no potential for stored or residual energy or re-accumulation of stored energy after shut down that could endanger employees;
(2) The machine or equipment has a single energy source that can be readily identified and isolated;
(3) The isolation and locking out of that energy source will completely de-energize and deactivate the machine or equipment;
(4) The machine or equipment is isolated from that energy source and locked out during servicing or maintenance;
(5) A single lockout device will achieve a locked-out condition;
(6) The lockout device is under the exclusive control of the authorized employee performing the servicing or maintenance;
(7) The servicing or maintenance does not create hazards for other employees; and
(8) The affected supervisor, in utilizing this exception, has had no accidents involving the unexpected activation or re-energization of the machine or equipment during servicing or maintenance.
b. These written, machine or equipment specific procedures must identify the information that the authorized employee(s) must know to control hazardous energy (steam, water, natural gas, compressed air, chemical, electrical, hydraulic, nuclear, mechanical, and others) during servicing or maintenance.
c. If this information is the same for various machines or equipment or if other means of logical grouping exists, then a single energy control procedure may be sufficient.
d. If there are other conditions, such as multiple energy sources, different connecting means, or a particular sequence that must be followed to shut down the machine or equipment, then the supervisor must develop separate, machine or equipment specific, written energy control procedures to protect the employees.
e. Ensure employees are provided training per the requirements of this chapter and that authorized employees are annually certified using the Attachment 1 to document.
3. Employees are responsible to observe safety practices contained in the LO/TO program and to point out unsafe conditions to their supervisor.
4. The building manager will coordinate all energy control activities with affected tenant organizations and with the Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR)/contractors and oversee to insure compliance with this Chapter.
5. OFMR (Office of Facilities Management and Reliability) will determine the standardized format of lockout and tagout devices since they comprise the majority of personnel performing operations covered by this program. In order to meet the standardization requirement, existing devices not meeting the standard will need to be phased out.
D. HAZARD IDENTIFICATION. Uncontrolled energy of machinery, equipment, or processes is a hazard to operators and other employees. Those who service and maintain machinery or equipment are especially vulnerable because it might become energized while being serviced. Failure to follow this LO/TO Program can result in life threatening or serious injury situations.
1. Forms of Hazardous Energy. Workers may be exposed to hazardous energy in several forms and combinations during installation, maintenance, service, or repair work. A comprehensive hazardous energy control program will address all forms of hazardous energy.
a. Electrical energy from generated electrical power, static sources, or electrical storage devices (such as batteries or capacitors)
b. Steam
c. Pneumatic
d. Natural Gas
e. Water
f. Hydraulic
g. Stored Energy
2. Servicing and/or Maintenance Operations Hazards. If a servicing activity—such as lubricating, cleaning or un-jamming the production equipment—takes place during production, the employee performing the servicing may be subjected to hazards that are not encountered as part of the production operation itself. Workers engaged in these operations are covered by LO/TO when any of the following conditions occur:
a. The employee must either remove or bypass machine guards or other safety devices, resulting in exposure to hazards at the point of operation;
b. The employee is required to place any part of his or her body in contact with the point of operation of the operational machine or piece of equipment; or
c. The employee is required to place any part of his or her body into a danger zone associated with a machine operating cycle.
In the above situations, the equipment must be de-energized and locks or tags must be applied to the energy-isolation devices. In addition, when other servicing tasks occur—such as setting up equipment or making significant adjustments to machines — employees performing such tasks are required to lock out or tag out if they can be injured by unexpected energization or startup of the equipment.
OSHA also recognizes that some servicing operations must be performed with the power on. Making many types of fine adjustments, such as centering the belt on conveyors, is one example. Certain aspects of troubleshooting, such as identifying the source of the problem as well as checking to ensure that it has been corrected, is another. OSHA requires the employer to provide effective protection when employees perform such operations. Although, in these cases, a power-on condition is essential either to accomplish the particular type of servicing or to verify that it was performed properly, lockout or tagout procedures are required when other service or maintenance occurs and power is not required.
E. HAZARDOUS ENERGY CONTROL PROCEDURES
1. General Procedures for Authorized Employees. Follow the written procedures developed by supervisors or building managers when performing service or maintenance of machines and equipment in which the unexpected energization or start up of the machines or equipment, or release of stored energy is possible.
2. Energy Isolation. Implementation of lockout or the tagout system shall be performed only by authorized employees. Tagout procedures will ONLY be used if an energy-isolating device is not capable of being locked out.
3. Exclusive Control of Cord and Plug Connected Equipment – Potentially hazardous energy in cord and plug connected equipment must be controlled by the employee. Employees can protect themselves by preventing the equipment from becoming re‑ energized during the servicing operation. Follow either of these two procedures.
a. Unplug the equipment from its electrical socket. Place a lockable cover over the plug. Place your lock on the plug cover.
b. Unplug equipment from its electrical socket. Keep the plug in your possession at all times during equipment servicing; OR keep the plug within arm’s reach and in your line of sight at all times during equipment servicing.
4. Notification of Employees. Affected employees shall be notified orally, by the supervising department or authorized employee of the application and removal of lockout devices or tagout devices. Notification shall be given before the controls are applied, and after they are removed from the machine or equipment.