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Administrative Policy & Procedures Manual » SAF Manual » 200 Workplace Safety.

OSU SAF 208: Lock Out Tag Out - Energy Control Program

Safety Policy & Procedure Manual
Section 200: Workplace Safety
Revised: 06/24/2004

Purpose
Applicability
Definitions
Policy
Procedure

Purpose

The OSU energy control program outlines clearly defined procedures for the control of hazardous energy.

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Applicability

These procedures cover the servicing and maintenance of equipment that could cause serious injury to employees when an unexpected energizing, start up, or release of stored energy occurs.

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Definitions

Authorized employees

Employees trained in lockout/tagout procedures.

Affected employees

Employees working on or around this equipment, but not trained in the lockout/tagout procedures.

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Policy

The primary method used to control hazardous energy is the utilization of lockout/tagout procedures. All sources of energy, including electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, gravitational, and thermal, need to be considered.

Lockout versus Tagout
Lockout shall be the exclusive method used for the isolation of all energy sources that are designed to accept a locking device. Tagout devices, such as tags or signs, must be used if a locking device cannot be attached to the control switch or valve. Tags and their means of attachment are to be substantial enough to prevent inadvertent or accidental removal. Nylon cable ties are the recommended method of tag attachment. Whenever major replacement, repair, renovation, or modification of equipment is performed, and whenever new equipment is installed, the energy control switch or valve for that equipment shall be able to accept a locking device.

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Procedure

Responsibilities

Responsible Party	Actions
Supervisors	Identify equipment that has hazardous energy characteristics and for providing instruction on the lockout/tagout procedures to employees who work on that equipment. (Training materials are available through Environmental Health and Safety, 7-2273). The supervisor of each university unit that uses the lockout/tagout procedures will perform an annual inspection of the energy control procedure in the unit to ensure that the requirements of OR-OSHA lockout/tagout rules are being followed. The basic rule mandates that all equipment shall be locked or tagged to protect against accidental or inadvertent operation when such operation could cause injury to personnel. See Training and Communication in this document.
Employees	Inquire with supervisor to see if lockout/tagout training is appropriate.
Outside Personnel	If engaged in activities requiring the control of hazardous (Contractors) energy, they must use a lockout/tagout program. The OSU construction inspector and the outside contractor are to inform each other of their respective lockout or tagout procedures and determine the lockout/tagout program that will be used.
OSU Construction Inspector	Inform the outside contractor of their respective lockout or tagout procedures and determine the lockout/tagout program that will be used.

Training and Communication
Training will be provided to ensure that employees understand the purpose and procedures of the energy control program and that the knowledge and skill required for the safe application, usage, and removal of lockout/tagout devices are conveyed to employees.

Responsible Party

Actions

Supervisors

Train each authorized employee in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the work place, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.
The supervisor of each university unit that uses the lockout/tagout procedures will perform an annual inspection of the energy control procedure in the unit to ensure that the requirements of OR-OSHA lockout/tagout rules are being followed. The basic rule mandates that all equipment shall be locked or tagged to protect against accidental or inadvertent operation when such operation could cause injury to personnel.
The supervisor will instruct each affected employee in the purpose and use of the energy control procedure.

Minimum Training Requirements: Tagout Authorized employees will be trained in the following limitations of tags:

Tags are essentially warning devices affixed to energy isolating devices, and do not provide the physical restraint on those devices normally provided by a lock.
When a tag is attached, it is not to be removed except by the authorized person responsible for it, and it is never to by bypassed, ignored, or otherwise defeated.
In order to be effective, tags must be legible and understandable by all employees whose work operations are or may be in the area.
Tags and their means of attachment must be made of materials that will withstand the environmental conditions encountered in the work place.
Tags may evoke a false sense of security, and their meaning needs to be understood as part of the overall energy control program.
Tags must be securely attached to energy-isolating devices so they cannot be inadvertently or accidentally detached during use.

NOTE: Employee Retraining will be conducted whenever a periodic inspection reveals, or whenever there is reason to believe, that there are deviations from or inadequacies in the employee’s knowledge or use of an energy control device.

Documentation of Training

Responsible Party	Actions
Supervisors	Complete documentation showing that employee training has been accomplished.

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