Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
control oF hAzArdous energy sources
[lockout/tAgout] (29 cFr 1910.147)
Lockout/tagout.deals.with.preventing.the.release.of.energy.from.machines,.equip-
ment,.and.electrical.circuits.that.are.perceived.to.be.de-energized..OSHA.estimates.
that.compliance.with.the.lockout/tagout.standard.will.prevent.about.120.fatalities.and.
approximately.28,000.serious.and.32,000.minor.injuries.each.year..Approximately.
39.million.general.industry.workers.are.to.be.protected.from.accidents.during.main-
tenance.and.servicing.of.equipment.under.this.ruling.
The.standard.for.the.control.of.hazardous.energy.sources.(lockout/tagout).covers.
servicing.and.maintenance.of.machines.and.equipment.in.which.the.unexpected.ener-
gizing.or.start-up.of.the.machines.or.equipment.or.the.release.of.stored.energy.can.
cause.injury.to.employees..The.rule.generally.requires.that.energy.sources.for.equip-
ment.be.turned.off.or.disconnected,.and.that.the.switch.either.be.locked.or.labeled.
with.a.warning.tag..About.3.million.workers.actually.servicing.equipment.face.the.
greatest.risk..These.include.craft.workers,.machine.operators,.and.laborers..OSHA's.
data.show.that.packaging.and.wrapping.equipment,.printing.presses,.and.conveyors.
account.for.a.high.proportion.of.the.accidents.associated.with.lockout/tagout.failures..
Typical.injuries.include.fractures,.lacerations,.contusions,.amputations,.and.puncture.
wounds,.with.the.average.lost.time.for.injuries.running.at.24.days.
Agriculture,. maritime,. and. construction. employers. are. not. covered. under. stan-
dard.29.CFR.1910.147..Also,.the.generation,.transmission,.and.distribution.of.electric.
power.by.utilities,.and.work.on.electric.conductors.and.equipment,.are.excluded..The.
general.requirements.under.this.ruling.require.employers.to
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1.. Develop.an.energy.control.program.
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2.. Use.locks.when.equipment.can.be.locked.out.(see.Figure 25.5).
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3.. Ensure. that. new. equipment. or. overhauled. equipment. can. accommodate.
locks.
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4.. Employ.additional.means.to.ensure.safety.when.tags,.rather.than.locks,.are.
installed.by.using.an.effective.tagout.program.
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5.. Identify. and. implement. speciic. procedures. (generally. in. writing). for. the.
control. of. hazardous. energy,. including. preparation. for. shutdown,. equip-
ment. isolation,. lockout/tagout. application,. release. of. stored. energy,. and.
veriication.of.isolation.
.
6.. Institute. procedures. for. the. release. of. lockout/tagout,. including. machine.
inspection,.notiication.and.safe.positioning.of.employees,.and.the.removal.
of.a.lockout/tagout.device.
.
7..Obtain. standardized. locks. and. tags. that. indicate. the. identity. of. the.
employee.using.them.and.that.are.of.suficient.quality.and.durability.to.
ensure.their.effectiveness.
.
8.. Require.that.each.lockout/tagout.device.be.removed.by.the.employee.who.
applied.the.device.
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9.. Conduct.inspections.of.energy.control.procedures.at.least.annually.
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10.. Train. employees. in. speciic. energy. control. procedures. with. training.
reminders.as.part.of.the.annual.inspection.of.these.control.procedures.
