Oklahoma State University Program for Control of Hazardous Energy
Reviewed December 2007
Developed
in accordance with the OSHA Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) Standard, 29 CFR 1910.147
This program
specifically outlines the purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized by
Oklahoma State University employees on a daily basis to guard against the unexpected
energizing, start-up, or release of stored energy which could cause injury. It shall be
the duty of each employee to become familiar with the contents of this program and ensure
compliance with its procedures. Heads of departments shall ensure that employees under
their supervision receive training in the contents of this program and ensure records of
this training are maintained.
The purpose
of this program is to establish procedures for affixing appropriate lockout or tagout
devices to energy-isolating devices, and to otherwise disable machines or equipment to
prevent unexpected energization, start-up or release of stored energy in order to prevent
injury to employees.
- Affected Employee
An employee whose job requires them to operate or use a machine or
piece of equipment on which servicing is being performed under lockout or tagout, or whose
job requires them to work in an area in which such servicing or maintenance is being
performed.
- Authorized
Employee
A
person who locks or implements a tagout system procedure on machines or equipment to
perform the servicing or maintenance on that machine or equipment. An authorized employee
and an affected employee may be the same person when the affected employee's duties also
include performing maintenance or service on a machine or piece of equipment which must be
locked, or a tagout system implemented. Energy Source: Any source of electrical,
mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, or other energy.
- Lockout
The placement of a lockout device on an energy-isolating device, in
accordance with an established procedure, ensuring that the energy- isolating device and
the equipment being controlled cannot be operated until the lockout device is removed.
Lockout Device: A device that utilizes a positive means, such as a lock, to hold an
energy-isolating device in the safe position and prevent the energizing of a machine or
piece of equipment.
- Normal Production Operations
The utilization of a machine or piece of
equipment to perform its intended production function.
- Primary Authorized Employee
The authorized employee who has been vested with responsibility for
a set number or group of employees performing service or maintenance on machines or
equipment subject to lockout or tagout procedures.
- Servicing and/or Maintenance
Workplace activities such as constructing, installing, setting up,
adjusting, inspecting, modifying, and maintaining and/or servicing machines or equipment.
These activities include lubrication, cleaning or unjamming of machines or equipment, and
making adjustments or tool changes where the employee may be exposed to the unexpected
energization or start-up of the equipment or release of hazardous energy.
- Tagout
The placement of a tagout device on an
energy- isolating device, in accordance with an established procedure, to indicate that
the energy-isolating device and the equipment being controlled may not be operated until
the tagout device is removed.
A designated
Oklahoma State University representative may authorize the use of this program by any and
all facilities, departments and individuals associated with the control of hazardous
energy on any Oklahoma State University entity.
Heads
of departments will implement the program and ensure that the personnel under their
supervision are trained in accordance with the procedures established herein. This
responsibility may be delegated to another person or persons within the department
providing it is done so in writing and the designated person is qualified and competent.
This person will authorize employees to implement the locking and tagging system
procedure.
An employee who has been authorized by his or her department head or that
department head's designated individual shall lock or implement a tagout system procedure
on machines or equipment to perform servicing or maintenance; or on a machine which the
unexpected energization or start-up of the machine or equipment, or release of stored
energy could cause injury.
Each
department utilizing the Oklahoma State University program for the control of hazardous
energy shall establish and document site-specific procedures for energy isolation.
Specialized lockout devices shall be obtained and kept within the department for its use.
If
an energy-isolating device is capable of being locked out, the authorized employee shall
utilize lockout, unless the department head or their designated representative can
demonstrate that utilization of a tagout system will provide full employee protection.
When a tagout device is used on an energy-isolating device which is capable of being
locked out, the tagout device shall be attached at the same location that the lockout
device would have been attached.
Lockout
devices used for the implementation of this program shall be accompanied by a standard tag
as suggested by the illustration at left.
These
devices shall be used for no other purpose than lockout, and shall be substantial enough
to prevent removal without the use of excessive force or unusual techniques. 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.
The Director of Environmental Health &
Safety or his/her designated representative shall conduct periodic inspection of the
energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the
requirements of 29CFR1910.147(c)(6) are being followed.
The heads of
departments or their designated representatives are required to provide training to ensure
that the purpose and function of the energy control program are understood by employees.
Through training, employees will be required to possess the knowledge and skills required
for safe application, usage, and removal of energy controls. Training shall include the
following:
- Each authorized employee shall receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous
energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the
methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.
- Each affected employee shall be instructed in the purpose and use of the energy control
procedure.
- All other employees whose work operations are or may be in an area where energy control
procedures may be utilized, shall be instructed about the procedure, and about the
prohibition relating to attempts to restart or re-energize machines or equipment which are
locked-out or tagged-out.
When tagout systems are used, employees shall also 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 that is provided by lockout.
- When a tag is attached to an energy-isolating means, it is not to be removed without
authorization of the authorized person responsible for it, and it is never to be bypassed,
ignored or otherwise defeated.
- Tags must be legible and understandable by all authorized employees, affected employees, and
all other employees whose work operations are or may be in the area, in order to be
effective.
- Tags and their means of attachment must be made of materials which will withstand the
environmental conditions encountered in the workplace.
- 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 that they cannot be
inadvertently or accidentally detached during use.
Retraining shall be provided for all authorized and affected employees whenever there is a change in
their job assignments, a change in machines, equipment or process that presents a new
hazard, or when there is a change in energy control procedures. Retraining shall establish
employee proficiency and introduce new or revised control methods and procedures as
necessary. The heads of departments or their designated representatives shall certify that
employee training has been accomplished and is being kept up-to-date. The certification
shall contain each employee's name and dates of training.
Implementation of the lockout or tagout system shall be performed only by authorized employees.
Affected employees shall be notified by heads of departments, or their designated
representatives, of the application and removal of lockout or tagout devices. Notification
shall be given before the controls are applied, and after they are removed from the
machine or equipment.
The established procedure for the application of energy control shall cover the following
elements and actions and shall be done in the following sequence:
- Preparation for shutdown: Before an authorized or affected
employee turns off a machine or piece of equipment, they shall have knowledge of the type
and magnitude of the energy, the hazards of the energy to be controlled, and the method or
means to control the energy.
- Machine or equipment shutdown: An orderly shutdown must be
utilized to avoid any additional or increased hazard(s) to employees as a result of
equipment de- energization.
- Machine or equipment isolation: All energy- isolating devices
that are needed to control the energy to the machine or equipment shall be physically
located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the
energy source(s).
- Lockout or tagout device application: Lockout or tagout devices shall be affixed to each
energy-isolating device by authorized employees. Lockout devices, where used, shall be
affixed in a manner that will hold the energy in a "safe" or "off"
position. Tagout devices, where used, shall be affixed in such a manner as will clearly
indicate that the operation or movement of energy- isolating devices from the
"safe" or "off" position is prohibited.
Where tagout devices are used with energy- isolating devices designed with the capability of being
locked, the tag shall be fastened at the same point at which the lock would have been
attached.
Where a tag cannot be affixed directly to the energy-isolating device, the tag shall be located
as close as safely possible to the device, in a position that will be immediately obvious
to anyone attempting to operate the device.
- Stored Energy: Following the application of lockout or tagout
devices to energy-isolating devices, all potentially hazardous stored energy shall be
rendered safe. If there is a possibility of re-accumulation of stored energy to a
hazardous level, verification of isolation shall be continued until the servicing or
maintenance is completed, or until the possibility of such accumulation no longer exists.
Verification of Isolation: Prior to starting work on machines
or equipment that have been locked out or tagged out, the authorized employee shall verify
that isolation and de- energization of the machine or equipment has been accomplished.
Release from Lockout or Tagout: Before lockout or tagout
devices are removed and energy is restored to the machine or equipment, procedures shall
be followed and actions taken by the authorized employee(s) to ensure the following:
- Lockout or Tagout Device Removal: Each lockout or tagout device shall be removed from each
energy isolating device by the employee who applied the device.
Exception: When the authorized
employee who applied the lockout or tagout device (installer) is not available to remove
it, that device may be removed under the direction of the installer's immediate
supervisor. Specific training and procedures for such removal shall be provided by each
department involved in lockout or tagout operations. The procedures and training shall be
documented. The documentation shall demonstrate that safety equivalent to the original
process of having only the installer remove the device is maintained. The specific
procedure shall include at least the following elements:
Testing or Positioning of machines, equipment, or components
thereof: In situations where lockout or tagout devices must be temporarily removed
from the energy- isolating device and the machine or equipment energized to test or
position the equipment or component thereof, the following sequence of actions shall be
followed:
Outside Personnel (contractors, etc.): Whenever outside servicing personnel are to be engaged
in activities covered by the scope and application of this program, the designated
Oklahoma State University representative and the outside employer shall inform each other
of their respective lockout or tagout procedures. The designated Oklahoma State University
representative shall ensure that his/her personnel understand and comply with restrictions
and prohibitions of the outside employer's energy control procedures. If the outside
employer has no documented lockout or tagout procedures, they shall ensure that their
personnel understand and comply with the procedures established in this program.
-
Group Lockout or Tagout: When servicing and/or maintenance is
performed by a crew or department, they shall utilize a procedure that affords their
employees a level of protection equivalent to that provided by the implementation of a
personal lockout or tagout device. This shall be accomplished by:
Shift or Personnel Changes: To insure the orderly transfer of
lockout or tagout devices between off-going and on-coming employees and minimize exposure
to hazards from unexpected energization, start-up of the machine or equipment, or release
of stored energy, these procedures shall be followed:
- The on-coming personnel shall notify the off-going personnel that they are ready to begin work
on the machine or equipment.
- All lockout and/or tagout devices attached to the machine or equipment by the off-going
personnel shall be removed and immediately replaced with like devices by the on-coming
authorized personnel.
- The primary authorized employee shall insure that all pertinent co-ordination between
off-going and on-coming personnel has been completed before the on-coming authorized
personnel begin work on the machine or equipment and that all necessary energy has been
rendered safe.
End of Manual 
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