Lockout Tagout - Energy Isolation and Notification of Employee
Section (c) states that the process of Lockout Tagout shall be performed only by the authorized employees who are servicing. This is so because, an authorised employee is especially trained for the particular isolation, which any other employee might not be able to perform efficiently.
Lockout Tagout requires technical understanding, which cannot be done by any unskilled professional. Therefore, an authorised employee is assigned by the supervisor.
Notification of Affected Employees.
Lack of information regarding the status of equipment could endanger the employees who re-energize, operate or work around the machines. Whenever LOTO control might directly affect another employee’s work activities, paragraph (c) (9) requires the employer or authorized employee to notify the affected employees prior to applying, and after removing the Lockout Tagout device.
Such notification informs affected employees of the impending interruption of the normal production operation and reinforces the importance of the restrictions imposed.
After removing a LOTO device, notifying employees, alerts them that the equipment is capable of being started-up. Else, employees might mistakenly believe that a system is safe to continue working around the machine, leading to heinous accidents.
Check OSHA Guidelines - https://www.safetylock.net/learn-lockout-tagout/osha-29-cfr-1910-147-standard/
