Employees servicing or maintaining machines or equipment may
be exposed to serious physical harm or death if hazardous energy is not
properly controlled. Compliance with the Lock Out/Tag Out standard prevents an
estimated 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries each year. Workers injured on the
job from exposure to hazardous energy lose an average of 24 workdays for
recuperation. OSHA.gov
OSHA 1910.147(a)(3)(i) states, “This section requires
employers to establish a program and utilize procedures for affixing
appropriate lockout devices 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.”
Employers are required as part of their energy-control
program to train employees on the following:
- Energy-control procedures for removing the energy supply from
machines and for putting appropriate lockout or tagout devices on the
energy-isolating devices to prevent unexpected reenergization. When
appropriate, the procedure also must address stored or potentially
reaccumulated energy;
- The energy-control program, including the safe application, use,
and removal of energy controls; and
- Inspect the procedures periodically (at least annually) to ensure
that they are being followed and that they remain effective in preventing
employee exposure to hazardous energy.
If employers use tagout devices on machinery that can be
locked out, they must adopt additional measures to provide the same level of
employee protection that lockout devices would provide. Within the broad
boundaries of the standard, employers have the flexibility to develop programs
and procedures that meet the needs of their individual workplaces and the
particular types of machines being maintained or serviced.
- It is important to identify all energy sources in your facility including electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic pumps, hydraulic lines, mechanic, steam, water under pressure, gases and fluid, chemicals or coolants, gravity, and thermal.
- Once identified, they need to be tagged with detailed instructions and how to isolate the energy, check the machine and remove the lockout.
- Create a statement on how to use the procedures.
- Define specific steps to designate the safe placement, removal and transfer of Lock Out/Tag Out devices and identify who is responsible.
Employers are required to provide initial training before starting service maintenance activities.
If an outside contractor maintains your machinery, the
onsite employer and contractor must inform each other of their respective Lock
Out/Tag Out procedures. The onsite employer must also ensure that employees
understand and comply with all requirements of their LOTO Energy Control
Program.
Do you need assistance with your LOTO program? WiscoLift has
a complete team of certified service technicians and electricians to tag your energy
sources and provide documentation for your company. Call us at 800-242-3477 or
email smartlift@wiscolift.com.
Remember, “Working Safe is Working Smart!”
#industrial #LOTO #safety #materialhandling
