Lockout Tagout programs specifically refer to documented electrical worker practices and procedures that are designed, trained and tested by a company to safeguard employees from the unexpected energization of electrical equipment or machinery, so there is no release of hazardous electrical energy during electrical maintenance activities.
OSHA estimates that about three million workers work on or maintain electrical equipment and it is these workers who face the greatest risk of injury if a proper lockout tagout program is not implemented and followed. To accomplish this, strict adherance with the OSHA lockout tagout standard can prevent an estimated 120 fatalities and 50,000 electrical injuries each year. Electrical workers injured on the job from exposure to hazardous energy lose an average of 24 workdays for recuperation. Twenty per cent of the fatalities that occurcan be attributed to inadequate lockout tagout programs.
Lockout Tagout programs are addressed in specific standards for the general industry, marine terminals, longshoring, and the construction industry.
Lockout Tagout Programs Govern Lockout Devices and Associated Hardware
Each lockout device, and tag shall indicate the identity of the authorized individual who applied the device(s), and may also include the date and the reason for the lockout. The information shall remain legible for the maximum period of time that exposure is expected.
Recognized Lockout Processes
Designed to cover maintenance of a very basic nature, a Lockout Tagout Programs specifies that individual Lockout require each and every worker involved in activities requiring lockout to be knowledgeable of the hazards associated with the work and the isolation required to eliminate those hazards and to apply their own worker locks to the devices needed for their protection. They must each then ensure before work begins that they verify the machine, equipment or process is de-energized.
Lockout Tagout Programs Govern Group Lockout
Specific procedures shall be utilized during shift or personnel changes to ensure the continuity of Lockout or protection
Provision for the orderly transfer of lockout or device protection between off-going and oncoming authorized individuals, to minimize exposure to hazards from the inadvertent energization or start-up of the machine, equipment or process, or the release of stored energy
A procedure shall be established by a Lockout Tagout Programs for the safe removal of a lockout device and information tag inadvertently left on an energy- isolating device by an authorized person who has either departed the workplace or is not available to remove them. In order to remove lockout devices and tags safely, the site and or facility shall have an approved procedure in place that identifies an individual or individuals who are authorized to remove abandoned locks.
CSA Z460 Requirements for Lockout Tagout Programs
Allows provisions for operation tasks (non maintenance repair tasks. “Lockout is recognized as the primary method of Hazardous Energy Control”.
Lockout Tagout Programs Govern Other Hazardous Energy Control Methods
Traditional Lockout to a full zero energy state is not practicable in all situations. When lockout affects tasks that are integral to the production process by design, or traditional lockout prohibits the completion of specific tasks, other hazardous energy control methods shall be used.
Lockout Tagout Programs
Appropriate Tasks for Other Control Methods
To be considered integral to production, designed tasks shall exhibit most of the following characteristics:
- Of short duration;
- Relatively minor in nature;
- Occurring frequently during the shift or production day;
- Usually performed by operators or others functioning as operators;
- Represent predetermined cyclical activities;
- Minimally interrupt the operation of the production process;
- Exist even when optimal operating levels are achieved; and
- Require task-specific personnel training.
Selection of Other Control Methods
The user shall select other control methods that are designed so that adequate risk reduction has been achieved. The hazard risk assessment shall take into consideration the fact that it is possible that existing safeguards provided with the machine, equipment, or process will need to be removed or modified to perform a given task. The Other Control Method selected shall have detailed procedures developed and documented for the control of hazardous energy.
Release from Lockout or Tagout
The authorized employee must follow the procedures below prior to
removing lockout/tagout devices and restoring energy.
Lockout Tagout Equipment
- Make certain that all machinery or electrical equipment is properly put back together
- Inspect machinery or electrical equipment to ensure nonessential items have
been removed
Employees
- Ensure that all electrical workers are safely positioned outside hazardous areas
- Notify affected employees that lockout tagout device has been
removed and that energy is going to be reapplied
Removing lockout/tagout devices
- Only the authorized employee who applied the lockout tagout device may
remove that device
- Exception - When the authorized employee is not available to remove it, the
device can be removed under the direction of the employer
- Specific procedures and training must be developed,
documented, and placed in your energy control plan
- At a minimum, the procedures must include:
- Verification that the authorized employee who applied the
device is not at the facility
- Making all reasonable efforts to contact him/her to inform
them that their lockout tagout device has been removed
- Ensuring that they are aware of this upon returning to work
- If the authorized employee is not available, who is authorized to remove
the lockout tagout device?
Lockout Tagout Programs Govern Dictate Group Lockout or Tagout
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