Lockout/tagout requirements should never be ignored or taken lightly. A worker who works on a machine without de-energizing, locking and tagging it first could be seriously hurt or even killed if someone restarts the machine while the worker is still working on it.

It is vitally important that your employees are trained on lockout/tagout procedures in their work areas, because their lives or limbs could depend on them.

Lockout/tagout systems involve two types of workers: authorized people and affected people. An authorized person is someone with the knowledge, training and experience to engage in hazardous energy control. The authorized person generally performs the required repair or maintenance and they inform all affected employees that lockout/tagout procedures will be performed before beginning work on the equipment.

The authorized person puts on locks and tags, controls the keys to the locks being used, and is the only person allowed to remove locks or tags after work is finished. The authorized person might be the machine’s operator or someone else such as a designated repair person.

An affected person is any worker affected by the equipment being out of service and who is not involved with lockout/tagout or maintenance operations. Employees who work in the same area are also considered affected if their job duties are interrupted by the equipment being shut down.

WHAT MUST EMPLOYERS DO TO PROTECT EMPLOYEES?

·             Develop, implement, and enforce an energy control program

·             Use lockout devices for equipment that can be locked out. Tagout devices may be used in lieu of lockout devices only if the tagout program provides employee protection equivalent to that provided through a lockout program

·             Ensure that new or overhauled equipment is capable of being locked out

·             Develop, implement, and enforce an effective tagout program if machines or equipment are not capable of being locked out

·             Develop, document, implement, and enforce energy control procedures

·             Use only lockout/tagout devices authorized for the particular equipment or machinery and ensure that they are durable, standardized, and substantial

·             Ensure that lockout/tagout devices identify the individual users

·             Establish a policy that permits only the employee who applied a lockout/tagout device to remove it

·             Inspect energy control procedures at least annually

·             Provide effective training as mandated for all employees covered by the standard