Lockout Tagout

Last week I posted the requirements for workers verifying a Zero Energy State (ZES), and it was ALL about operators and NOT electrical workers. In this post, I will explain the EXTRA steps that “qualified electrical workers” MUST DO BEFORE they begin their electrical work. I will use the OSHA regulation for electrical work…1910.333 “Selection

These ten principles sum up what Lockout/Tagout is ALL ABOUT. Always remember…LOTO is ALL ABOUT YOU, and it is NOT a team activity!

A verification system is implemented to ensure the continued isolation and de-energization of hazardous energy sources during the course of maintenance and servicing operations. Once the equipment is shut down and the hazardous energy has been controlled, maintenance/servicing personnel, sometimes in conjunction with operations personnel, must test the machinery or equipment to verify that the

Due to the significant risks associated with inadequate energy control procedures and the failure to properly implement effective energy control procedures, section 1910.147(c)(6)(i) REQUIRES that periodic inspections be performed AT LEAST ANNUALLY (based on twelve-month intervals) to VERIFY that the procedures are adequate and they are being properly applied OSHA believes that these periodic inspections

OSHA’s performance-oriented LOTO training program requirements, as detailed in §1910.147(c)(7), were developed to provide employer flexibility and deal with various workplace conditions. The specific training material will vary from workplace to workplace and even from employee to employee within a single workplace, depending upon: the complexity of the machine or equipment and the procedures, the

The employer must ensure that specific procedures are implemented during shift or personnel changes to provide a continuity of lockout or tagout protection throughout this transition period. This assurance usually involves action by the authorized or supervisory employee (Primary Authorized Employee) responsible for coordinating affected workforces and maintaining LOTO protection. See §§ 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(C) and 1910.147(f)(4).

Verification by the authorized employee that the previous steps of the procedure have effectively isolated the machine or equipment must be done prior to starting the servicing or maintenance work.  The authorized employees need to verify that: the machine or equipment has been turned off or shut down properly; all the energy-isolating devices were identified,

LOCKOUT is a more effective means of ensuring the de-energization of equipment; it is the preferred method because lockout-based safety programs are less susceptible to human error, and tagout devices have INHERENT PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS. Therefore, if the energy isolating device is capable of being locked out, the standard requires LOCKOUT unless the employer can demonstrate

The short answer is NO…UNLESS your online training is SPECIFIC to your workplace, LOTO written program, and machine energy isolation procedures

The Control of Hazardous Energy (lockout/tagout) standard regulates the servicing and/or maintenance of chemical process systems and associated piping, even though the energy sources (e.g., chemical and thermal energy) and control methods used in process hazards management are somewhat different from those encountered with machinery and mechanical equipment. Typically, the procedural steps required for the

One of the most overlooked LOTO program requirements is the “Means to Enforce”. OSHA regulations state the following about procedures to enforce the program…