Safety

Safety – Keys to Lockout/Tagout

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration currently lists the 10 most violated OSHA standards based on past citations, lockout/tagout was the fifth most cited standard.

Companies continue to ignore the importance of tagout and the fines and citations usually occur after something happens to the worker or the building. Companies should comply with lockout/tagout to prevent accidents and save lives.

During lockout/tagout, a person authorized by the company places locks and or tags on energy isolating devices before working on equipment, and only that person can remove those locks and tags. Isolation devices are mechanical appliances, such as circuit breakers, used to stop energy from being released to the equipment. Lockout is usually accomplished with a keyed lock holding an isolating device in an “off” position. Tagout, which is often used when lockout can not take place, uses tags to warn people that the equipment and isolating device may not be operated.

Lockout/tagout is required when servicing or performing maintenance on equipment. Effective lockout/tagout should occur in three phases 1) taking the equipment out of service 2) locking out the equipment by isolation and tags 3) performing the repair or service and returning the equipment back to service. Applying the lockout/tagout requires an authorized person trained in lockout/tagout and in writing as a qualified person. Only that person will be able to apply the lockout/tagout and will have the key and locks to tagout the equipment. He/she will tagout the equipment and log the time, location, equipment and the person tagging the equipment out of service in the lockout/tagout procedure manual. After the repair or service the tags will be removed after the equipment has been verified to be safe to operate. At that time the authorized person will tag the machinery in and clear all the logs associated with the tagout.

Today question is how often do you tagout a lighting system in a space to change a ballast? Most tenants will argue about turning the lights outs and then you are faced with a dilemma, what should you do? The right answer is to tell the tenant in order to replace the burnt out lamp the power must be turned off or it will have to be done after hours at their expense. Many times maintenance workers are put in places of great danger by tenants or managers that want to do it with the power on. Or as the workers say “doing it hot”. It is just a matter of time until someone gets hurt. Are you willing to take that change on a stupid 2 lamp lighting fixture?

Test your knowledge

1)      What is the purpose of lockout/tagout?

a. To make sure the work is being completed on time.

b. To protect people from serious harm due to accidental release of energy.

c. To make sure the workplace is secure after hours.

2)  What is an energy isolating device?

1. A lock.
2. A mechanical device like a circuit breaker or a valve.
3. A Tag
4. A and C.

      3) Who can service equipment?

1. Any employee
2. Management
3. Authorized workers
4. Custodians

       4)  What must happen before removing a guard?

      

1. You must put on eye protection
2. Ask a trusted co-worker to watch the controls so no one else will touch them.
3. Tell everyone you see in the work area a hazard and they need to be careful.
4. Lock/tag the equipment

5)      What is a tag used for?

a.       To hang around a worker’s neck.

b.      To identify company products.

c.       A warning to not operate equipment.

d.      None of the above.

6)      When are tags used?

a.       When a lock can not be used.

b.       When products go on sale.

c.       When a government official says they can be used.

d.       All of the above.

7)      You can help an authorized person by fastening their lock to a disconnect switch.

a.       yes

b.      no

8)      What kind of lock is used for lockout?

a.       A lock from the worker’s personal locker.

b.      A piece of strong wire.

c.       A lock specifically identified for lockout.

9)      What can be used to remove a lock from an isolating device?

a.        A hacksaw

b.        A key

c.        Bolt cutters

d.        A cutting torch

10)  What types of lockout/tagout records should be kept?

a.       Written lockout/tagout procedures

b.      Inspection documents

c.       Training records

d.      All of the above.

Answers of 10 correct answers, is the only acceptable score for total OSHA compliance.

       1)B,2)B,3)C,4)D,5)C,6)A,7)B,8)D,9)B,10)D.