#lockouttagoutprocedure

Group lockout or tagout devices shall be used in accordance with the procedures required by paragraph (c)(4) of this section including, but not necessarily limited to, the following specific requirements:

(f)(3)(ii)(A) Primary responsibility is in the hands of the authorized employee for the employees working under the protection of a group lockout or tagout device.

(f)(3)(ii)(B) The authorized employee has to ascertain the exposure status of individual group members with regard to the lockout tagout of the equipment

(f)(3)(ii)(C) When more than one crew, craft, or department is involved, assignment of overall job responsibility is on an authorized employee, designated to coordinate affected work forces and ensure continuity of protection

(f)(3)(ii)(D) Each authorized employee shall affix a personal lockout or tagout device to the group lockout device, group lock box, or comparable mechanism when he or she begins work, and shall remove those devices when he or she stops working on the machine.

OSHA Lockout Tagout Standard 1910.147(f)(2) - Outside Personnel (Contractors, etc.)

In general, equipment and machines are customarily shut down following the normal LOTO procedures, and any residual / stored energy is safely released. However, under certain circumstances, for example, testing with the power on, is often necessary to ensure the proper assembly and functioning of the components. It may not be possible to apply Lockout Tagout during the test being performed.

In such cases, OSHA permits the removal of Lockout Tagout devices and the re-energization of equipment only during the time necessary for the testing or positioning of the machine, equipment, or component, and only when re-energization is essential to accomplish the servicing task.

However, appropriate measures should be taken to protect people and minimize the risk in such special cases.

Temporary removal of locks or tags and re-energization of the machinery or equipment is permitted to allow testing or repositioning, provided that specific procedures control the sequence of actions to be taken. The procedures must provide maximum safety coverage for employees when the equipment or machinery must be energized during the course of servicing. Employee exposure to hazards is high during these transition periods.

When this occurs, re-energization also requires that the authorized employee:

1. Clear the machines or equipment of tools and materials.

2. Remove employees from the immediate area.

3. Remove the LOTO devices as specified in your company plan.

4. Energize and proceed with testing or positioning.

5. De-energize all systems, isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source, and reapply lockout or tagout devices as specified.

Therefore, the energy control procedure for the equipment being serviced must reflect the required sequence of actions to be taken, and employees should be thoroughly trained in the use of procedures.

Check OSHA Guidelines - https://www.safetylock.net/learn-lockout-tagout/osha-documentation/

Our comprehensive lockout tagout guide focuses on 8 essential steps to implement LOTO procedure for critical safety. Learn how to identify hazardous energy sources, prepare for shutdown, isolate energy sources, ground and bond equipment, verify energy isolation, apply lockout devices, test for residual energy, and authorize work and release.

Most of the OSHA Violations are due to the unavailability of Energy Control Procedures (ECP) or Machine Specific Procedures (MSP) in organisations. Companies buy Local products, just to become LOTO compliant, but they do not know the correct procedure for safe isolation and control of Hazardous energies. Successful implementation of Energy Control Program requires an understanding and awareness of Hazardous energy types and magnitude, the methods, techniques, and devices used to control that energy.

To provide guidance to employees for putting the program into practice, written Energy Control Procedures should be developed. These procedures must define the purpose, scope, and application of the program, deploy the responsibilities of the managers, supervisors, and employees for implementing a systematic Lockout Tagout program.

A written Energy Control procedures (ECP) / Machine Specific procedures (MSP) needs to be developed, documented as it clearly and specifically outlines the steps to be followed, techniques to be used, and measures to be applied for the control of potentially Hazardous Energy.

This includes specific steps to shut down, isolate, block, secure, place, and remove lockout or tagout devices, and to determine the effectiveness of those devices by following verification steps.

The written ECP/MSP must have pictorial representation for isolation, installed images of LOTO devices that specifies procedural steps for the placement, removal and transfer of Lockout Devices or tagout devices.

Lack of compliance can lead to serious disciplinary actions. Industries need to mention the consequences in case of non-compliance of Lockout Tagout due to any reason, whatsoever.

Periodic inspections are mandatory to help ensure that the energy control procedures and the requirements of the standard are being followed.

Services of LOTO can be taken for developing ECPs/MSPs as they have vast industrial knowledge to prescribe the proper steps for the safe isolation by the correct use of Lockout Tagout.

Maintenance is every day’s job in the workplaces, so is the use of Lockout Tagout for ensuring employees safety. Though the Lockout Tagout OSHA standard is expected to prevent fatalities and injuries, yet accidents associated with the release of hazardous energies continue to occur. Despite the alarming number of machine related accidents and OSHA’s enforcement efforts, companies are unable to implement successful lockout tagout systems in their premises. Sometimes, these companies face heavy fines and risk the occurrence of serious and costly machine related accidents which are entirely preventable with effective LOTO System in place.

The success of Lockout System requires a commitment to a sustained effort: Although the process seems to be burdensome, taxing and time-consuming - but with E-Square Lockout/Tagout Compliance Manual - one can easily prepare their own internal plan of Lockout Tagout Procedure for implementing a successful LOTO System.

We at E-Square are known worldwide for helping our customers in developing their in-house, Lockout Tagout System.

*Lockout Tagout Compliance Manual is only for Corporates/Companies.