Key Takeaways:

– Understanding the purpose of lock and tag procedures
– Connecting the roles and responsibilities for worker designations under lock and tag
– Recognizing the sources of energy hazards and consequences of improper control
– Acknowledging employer responsibilities and requirements for lock and tag
– Identifying different types of lock and tag devices
– Learning the basic procedural steps for lock and tag
– Comprehending criteria and situations that qualify as exceptions to lock and tag requirements
OSHA has estimated that not controlling hazardous stored energy causes nearly ten percent of serious accidents across industries, and in addition, workers injured on the job from exposure to hazardous energy lose an average of 24 workdays. However, OSHA states that compliance with lockout and tagout procedures prevents an estimated 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries annually.

Course Description

For your protection from the serious hazards posed by the unexpected start-up or operation of equipment during repair or maintenance, OSHA has established a Control of Hazardous Energy standard. Commonly referred to as lockout/tagout (LOTO), or energy isolation standard, this standard requires the application of markings and barriers that prevent unauthorized persons from energizing and operating equipment.

In any form, energy becomes hazardous when it builds to a certain level, or is released inadvertently or unexpectedly. The phrase, lockout/tagout, refers to specific practices and procedures that safeguard employees from the unexpected startup of machinery and equipment, or the release of hazardous energy, during service or maintenance activities.

Locks and Tags Purpose
Lock and tag procedures establish safe boundaries to protect workers, in addition to ensuring that a machine has been isolated or disconnected from its power source. Individually, locks and tags serve different purposes and must be used accordingly.

Tags alone cannot sufficiently prevent an individual from starting a piece of equipment while another individual is servicing it. Due to this fact, tags must only act as temporary warnings until the hazardous equipment can be properly locked.

Every tag needs to be securely attached, legible and understandable. As well, tags must be made of materials capable of withstanding the environmental conditions they may encounter, such as rain or snow, and they must bear the name of the authorized person placing the tag on the equipment. Whenever possible, fasten tags to the same point as the lock. If that is not possible, then the tag must be near the lock and immediately obvious.

Locks are barriers keeping equipment from starting up and causing harm to someone who may be working on that piece of machinery. In order to work, locks must hold the energy isolating devices in a “safe” or “off” position. Regularly, locks should be inspected to guarantee they are standardized and durable.

Every lock needs to be keyed differently so no more than one person’s key will open it. Whenever a combination lock is used, for everyone’s safety only the person placing the lock can know the combination to open it. There’s a reason for placing locks and tags on equipment, therefore they should never be ignored or removed by anyone other than the individual who placed them.

In the case that it is not possible to lock a de-energized energy source, only a tag may be used. Any tag without a lock should be treated as if it is a lock. Whoever placed the tag must be identified on it, typically through the person’s name and contact information.

Lock and Tag Training
OSHA standards require employers train workers so that they can understand the purpose and function of an energy control program, in addition to its lockout and tagout procedures.

An authorized employee is someone who received training in recognizing applicable hazardous energy sources, type and magnitude of the energy available, and methods and means for energy isolation and control. As well, these employees must be annually trained on the control of hazardous energy, and must be retrained when there is a change in job assignments, machines, or energy control procedures.

It is crucial that authorized employees are the only people allowed to apply locks or tags and perform work on isolated equipment. Before starting work, the authorized employee is responsible for verifying that the equipment is isolated and de-energized. In addition, they must perform annual inspections to ensure energy control procedures are being followed. In the case that there are deviations in equipment, or inadequacies in the use and knowledge of energy control procedures are identified, the issue must be corrected immediately through repairs, new equipment purchases, or employee retraining.

On the other hand, an affected employee is someone who, during normal operations, uses a machine or equipment on which servicing or maintenance will be performed under a lockout/tagout action, or works in an area in which such servicing or maintenance is being performed.

Everyone else is those who work operations require them to access but not operate machinery in an area where energy control procedures may be utilized. These may be other employees, visitors, or contractors who are working in the area.

For both the health and safety of workers, lock and tag procedures are vital. Employers must follow OSHA’s standard for the Control of Hazardous Energy to protect their employees from harm.