OSHA’s extensive documentation found within the Federal Register extends to the use of lockout/tagout equipment, and there are several standards you need to be aware of and understand before the implantation of your own energy control program.
The first section referring to the requirements for equipment is placed upon the employer and under section (c)(5)(i) of 1910.147 the control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) the employer is required to provide:
“Locks, tags, chains, wedges, key blocks, adapter pins, self-locking fasteners, or other hardware shall be provided by the employer for isolating, securing or blocking of machines or equipment from energy sources.”
In other words, it is the employer’s responsibility to make sure that all employees with relevant training have access to all of the equipment they need for isolation purposes. If not, severe penalties can be placed on employers who are found to be not supplying the equipment workers need to perform maintenance/servicing safely.
It is the responsibility of the employer to make sure absolutely every piece of lockout/tagout equipment used is identified, and also adheres to many other regulations which are outlined further below.
The first section (c)(5)(ii) states that:
“Lockout devices and tagout devices shall be singularly identified; shall be the only device(s) used for controlling energy; shall not be used for other purposes; and shall meet the following requirements:”
Durability
The next section defines that devices must be durable, and says:
“Lockout and tagout devices shall be capable of withstanding the environment to which they are exposed for the maximum period of time that exposure is expected.”
Similarly, the next two sections state:
“Tagout devices shall be constructed and printed so that exposure to weather conditions or wet and damp locations will not cause the tag to deteriorate or the message on the tag to become illegible.
And:
“Tags shall not deteriorate when used in corrosive environments such as areas where acid and alkali chemicals are handled and stored.”
Section (c)(5)(ii)(A)(1-3)
Standardised
Is it also the responsibility to make sure there is some kind of standard in place to help with the identification and overall use of lockout/tagout equipment. Such examples would include using colour co-ordinated equipment for each specific isolation point, or allocating a certain colour to a certain maintenance team.
This section is defined by OSHA under section (C)(5)(ii)(B) as:
“Lockout and tagout devices shall be standardized within the facility in at least one of the following criteria: Colour; shape; or size; and additionally, in the case of tagout devices, print and format shall be standardized.”
Substantial
It is not acceptable to just provide lockout devices – they must adhere to standards and must be durable enough to prevent removal without the use of heavy-grade tools.
Under section (c)(5)(ii)(C)(1-2), this is defined by OSHA as:
“Lockout devices shall be substantial enough to prevent removal without the use of excessive force or unusual techniques, such as with the use of bolt cutters or other metal cutting tools.”
And:
“Tagout devices, including their means of attachment, shall be substantial enough to prevent inadvertent or accidental removal. Tagout device attachment means shall be of a non-reusable type, attachable by hand, self-locking, and non-releasable with a minimum unlocking strength of no less than 50 pounds and having the general design and basic characteristics of being at least equivalent to a one-piece, all environment-tolerant nylon cable tie.”
Identifiable
Under this section (D) it is the responsibility of the employer to make sure the equipment used is clarified and can be traced to a particular person who has applied it.
There are different rules for both lockout and tagout in this case, section (c)(5)(ii)(d) says in reference to lockout:
“Lockout devices and tagout devices shall indicate the identity of the employee applying the device(s)”
And in section II tagout is referenced:
“Tagout devices shall warn against hazardous conditions if the machine or equipment is energized and shall include a legend such as the following: “Do Not Start. Do Not Open. Do Not Close. Do Not Energize. Do Not Operate.”
