Lockout for Safety

OSHA’s Standard 29 CFR 1910.147 for Lockout/tagout covers the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment in which the unexpected energization or start up of the machines or equipment, or release of stored energy could cause injury to employees. It is not uncommon for OSHA to cite employers for a lack of or deficiencies in lockout/tagout. 

In the dental laboratory, the need to develop and implement a lockout/tagout program could result if you have air compressors, exhaust vans and vents, boilout units, duplicating machines, casting machines, HVAC systems or any other equipment that cannot be de-energized by simply unplugging the equipment from an electrical outlet.  A laser welder is an exception to this and usually requires at least a 10-minute wait for the equipment to de-energize after disconnecting from the electrical supply.  Follow your manufacturer’s instructions for laser welders.

 The term lockout/tagout refers to specific practices and procedures to safeguard employees from the unexpected energization or startup of machinery and equipment, or the release of hazardous energy during service or maintenance activities.  This requires, in part, that a designated individual turns off and disconnects the machinery or equipment from its energy source(s) before performing service or maintenance and that the authorized employee(s) either lock or tag the energy isolating devices(s) to prevent the release of hazardous energy and take steps to verify that the energy has been isolated effectively.

If your employees repair and maintain your equipment, it is mandatory that you have a lockout/tagout program.  However, if you use outside contractors for machinery repair and maintenance, you must ensure that the contractor uses lockout/tagout procedures.  OSHA requires outside personnel (contractors, etc.) and on-site employees to inform each other of their respective lockout/tagout procedures.  Contractors are not required to use on-site employer lockout/tagout procedures.  An on-site employer is required to ensure that their employees understand and comply with restrictions and prohibitions of the outside employer’s energy control procedures.

Under certain circumstances, it has been noted that during OSHA inspections, employers using outside contractors, who are found to be in violation of lockout/tagout standards, that multi-employer citations could be issued to both the employer and the contract employer.

If the outside contractor does not have a lockout/tagout program, then the employer can utilize its lockout/tagout procedures.  The outside contractor would be responsible and could be held accountable, with respect to OSHA enforcement, for injuries sustained by his or her employees resulting from the use of the on-site employer’s energy control procedures, if determined to be deficient.

What are the protective materials and hardware to be used?

An energy isolation device is a mechanical device that is part of a piece of equipment, machinery or system that physically prevents the transmission or release of energy.  Some examples are: manually operated electrical circuit breakers, disconnect switches, slide gates, line valves and blocks.

Lockout devices are devices that use a positive means such as a lock to hold an energy isolation device safely and prevent the start up of a machine or equipment.  Lockout devices include: valve wheel covers, ball valve locks, locks for circuit breakers, and plug and switch plate locks.

Lockout is the placement of a lock out device including a padlock on the energy-isolating device of a piece of equipment, machinery or system.

Tagout is posting a prominent warning tag with durable string onto the energy isolation device and/or lockout device of the piece of equipment, machinery or system being controlled.  This tag documents the authorized person taking the equipment out of operation and the date.

 Who can perform lockout or tagout?

All persons must be authorized through training and qualification on the lockout procedures for the equipment and machinery they are assigned to work on.  This training must be completed before they can perform any service or maintenance.  Training and qualification must include understanding safe operation of the equipment and the use of the lockout devices and warning tags.  This training must be documented.

What should the written lockout/tagout program cover?

The procedures shall clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, training, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance.

A periodic inspection of the energy control procedure must be performed at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of this standard are being followed.  The supervisor of this program must certify that the periodic inspections have been performed.

This information is provided to give you an overview of lockout/tagout.  You can begin to determine if you need this type of program by making a survey of energized equipment and how you repair and maintain it to determine if you are required to develop and implement a lockout/tagout program.  SafeLink’s Safety Trainer Manual includes this type of program.  Ensure that your employees and contractors follow the appropriate procedures for their safety and your liability.