Read the Owner’s & Operator’s Manual entirely. When you see this symbol, the subsequent instructions and warnings are serious – follow
without exception.
Your life and the lives of others depend on it!
LOCKOUT / TAGOUT
Think, plan
and
check
.
Think
through the entire procedure and identify all the steps that are
required.
Plan
what personnel will be involved, what needs to be shut down, what guards need
to be removed, and how (and under what conditions) the power will be restarted.
Check
the
machine over to verify all power sources and stored energy have been identified including
engines, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, springs and accumulators, and suspended loads,
Shutoff and lockout power before adjusting, servicing, maintaining, or clearing an obstruction
from this machine. Failure to heed may result in serious injury or death. Communicate with
everyone involved in a repair or maintenance operation, including bystanders, that work is being
done which involves keeping this machine safety at a ZERO ENERGY STATE.
OSHA’s requirements for lockout/ tagout are covered in Section 1910.147 of the OSHA
standards. The LOTO standard establishes the employer's responsibility to protect workers
from hazardous energy. Employers are required to train each worker to ensure that they know,
understand, and are able to follow the applicable provisions of the hazardous energy control
procedures:
•
Proper lockout/ tagout (LOTO) practices and procedures safeguard workers from the
release of hazardous energy. The OSHA standard for The Control of Hazardous Energy
(Lockout/ Tagout) for general industry, outlines specific action and procedures for
addressing and controlling hazardous energy during servicing and maintenance of
machines and equipment. Employers are also required to train each worker to ensure
that they know, understand, and are able to follow the applicable provisions of the
hazardous energy control procedures. Workers must be trained in the purpose and
function of the energy control program and have the knowledge and skills required for
the safe application, usage and removal of the energy control devices.
•
All employees who work in the area where the energy control procedure(s) are utilized
need to be instructed in the purpose and use of the energy control procedure(s) and
about the prohibition against attempting to restart or reenergize machines or equipment
that is locked or tagged out.
•
All employees who are authorized to lockout machines or equipment and perform the
service and maintenance operations need to be trained in recognition of applicable
hazardous energy sources in the workplace, the type and magnitude of energy found in
the workplace, and the means and methods of isolating and/or controlling the energy.
•
Specific procedures and limitations relating to tagout systems where they are allowed.
•
Retraining of all employees to maintain proficiency or introduce new or changed control
methods.
OSHA outlines a six-step procedure for controlling hazardous energy:
•
Step 1: Prepare for shutdown.
It must be determined what type of power system is
going to be deactivated including electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic or other energy
sources. Knowledge of shut down methods is necessary.
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