18: Lock out Tag out
"Your employees learn by example. If they don't see you practicing good safety habits, they won't think safety is important." – Electrical Construction & Maintenance
Overview
OSHA places much emphasis on equipment safety. Workers are safe when the tools and equipment they use to perform a task are in good working order or operable. Worker safety is therefore wedded to equipment safety. Routine and repetitive maintenance of equipment is a core safety function and an essential workplace practice. Workers whose responsibility it is to repair and maintain equipment, machines, must work safely and be protected during equipment servicing.
It is while equipment is being serviced that machine guards are removed and safety interlocks disabled when workers are the most exposed to operating points and power transmission devices. It is imperative that all energy sources that control the affected equipment be isolated and prevented from being energized. Lockout/Tagout is a hybrid in the hierarchy of controls having elements of both engineering and work practice controls. It is a critical program that must be activated where ever workers service equipment.
Chapter Objective:
- Determine the Scope and Application of Standard 1910.147.
- Identify the elements of an effective Lockout/Tagout program.
- Review the employee role and responsibilities in an effective Lockout/Tagout program.
Learning Outcome:
- Apply hierarchy of controls to lockout/tagout standard.
- Select the elements of the 1910.147 standard that can be used to meet the 1926 Lockout/Tagout standard requirements.
Standards: Subpart K 1926.417 Lockout and Tagout of Circuits, 1910.147 Control of Hazardous Energy
Key Terms:
Hazardous Energy, key blocks, self-locking fasteners, wedge
Mini-Lecture: Lockout/Tagout and Machine Guarding
Topic Required Time: 1 hrs; Independent Study and reflection 3/4 hour.
Thumbnail: Lock out tag, Pixabay free license