Hazard Alert —Lockout/Tagout

CPWR – Center for Construction Research and Training

Dozens of construction workers are killed every year because they did not de-energize equipment or lock it out before working on it. Most of the deaths are electrocutions, but workers sometimes are crushed or have amputations or other injuries. These types of energy need to be controlled: electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, and pressurized liquids, vapors, and gases.

Protect Yourself

Lockout/tagout is a way to make sure electricity or other energy is not turned on (or released) while someone is working on machinery. Turning off a power switch is not enough. You must de-energize (prevent equipment from starting or moving), lock it out, release stored energy (for instance, bleed air from a pneumatic hose), and test to make sure the energy is off.

Your employer should:

• Set up a written lockout/tagout program
• Train you to use the program.*

The program should cover:

• Planning to identify:
  
  • energy sources
  • workers who can get hurt
  • who will de-energize equipment (and how).

• Keeping track of all involved workers
• Telling workers on new shifts about the lockout/tagout job
• Making sure the equipment is de-energized so it cannot be restarted
• Setting and removing lockout/tagout devices
• Coordinating with other jobs under way
• Releasing stored energy (for instance, discharging capacitors)
• Returning equipment to service (including testing or positioning of equipment).

Lockout/Tagout Procedure

1. Notification. Tell equipment operators and supervisors that power is being disconnected or isolated.
2. Preparation. Check with your supervisor for a written procedure (or checklist) that tells how to shut down and restart the equipment you are working on.
3. Shutdown. Turn off the equipment.
4. Isolation. Separate all energy sources using proper isolating devices – like manual circuit breakers or disconnect switches. Pushbuttons or selector switches cannot be the only way to de-energize. A lot of equipment has more than one type of energy that needs to be isolated.
5. Lockout/tagout application. Every worker who can be exposed to hazardous energy must be part of the lockout/tagout process.
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*OSHA has a comprehensive standard for lockout/tagout for general industry (29CFR1910.147), but not for construction.

• A lockout device is a key or combination lock with a special tag with a worker's name. The lock must be attached to an isolating device, circuit breaker, and/or switch to prevent turning on the energy source or equipment or releasing energy.
• A tagout device is a tag and a way to attach it that can withstand at least 50 pounds of force. (Some tagout devices are attached with wire.) Use a tagout device only when you cannot lock out. The tag should have a label or sign that says no one can turn on the equipment or remove the energy-isolating device without permission. (OSHA allows tagout devices, but the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH, does not recommend tagout-only work.)
• Each worker at risk should apply an individual lockout/tagout device to each source of hazardous energy – so there may be many locks or tags on each device. You must be the only one who has the key or combination for a lockout device you install – except in complex lockout/tagout (read below).

• Energy source
• Crew
• Craft
• Location
• Employer
• Way to isolate energy, or
• Work shift.
  One crew member should be in charge of the whole lockout/tagout. This person should be trained and identified by name in the written plan. Each worker still should check to be sure all energy sources are locked out before starting work.

For more information, call your local union, CPWR – Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) (301-578-8500 or www.cpwr.com), NIOSH (1-800-35-NIOSH or www.cdc.gov/niosh), or OSHA (1-800-321-OSHA or www.osha.gov) or go to www.elcosh.org.