1910.147(a): Lockout/Tagout Scope and Purpose

(a) Scope, application, and purpose — 56 citations

(1) Scope. Open (a)(1) 2 citations

(i) This standard 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. This standard establishes minimum performance requirements for the control of such hazardous energy. Open (a)(1)(i) 2 citations

(ii) This standard does not cover the following: Open (a)(1)(ii)

(A) Construction and agriculture employment;

(B) Employment covered by parts 1915, 1917, and 1918 of this title;

(C) Installations under the exclusive control of electric utilities for the purpose of power generation, transmission and distribution, including related equipment for communication or metering;

(D) Exposure to electrical hazards from work on, near, or with conductors or equipment in electric-utilization installations, which is covered by subpart S of this part; and Open (a)(1)(ii)(d)

(E) Oil and gas well drilling and servicing.

(2) Application. Open (a)(2) 34 citations

(i) This standard applies to the control of energy during servicing and/or maintenance of machines and equipment.

(ii) Normal production operations are not covered by this standard (See subpart O of this part). Servicing and/or maintenance which takes place during normal production operations is covered by this standard only if;: Open (a)(2)(ii) 25 citations

(A) An employee is required to remove or bypass a guard or other safety device; or Open (a)(2)(ii)(a) 3 citations

(B) An employee is required to place any part of his or her body into an area on a machine or piece of equipment where work is actually performed upon the material being processed (point of operation) or where an associated danger zone exists during a machine operating cycle. Open (a)(2)(ii)(b) 19 citations

Exception to paragraph (a)(2)(ii): Minor tool changes and adjustments, and other minor servicing activities, which take place during normal production operations, are not covered by this standard if they are routine, repetitive, and integral to the use of the equipment for production, provided that the work is performed using alternative measures which provide effective protection (See subpart O of this part).

(iii) This standard does not apply to the following. Open (a)(2)(iii) 9 citations

(A) Work on cord and plug connected electric equipment for which exposure to the hazards of unexpected energization or start up of the equipment is controlled by the unplugging of the equipment from the energy source and by the plug being under the exclusive control of the employee performing the servicing or maintenance. Open (a)(2)(iii)(a) 9 citations

(B) Hot tap operations involving transmission and distribution systems for substances such as gas, steam, water or petroleum products when they are performed on pressurized pipelines, provided that the employer demonstrates that

(1) continuity of service is essential;

(2) shutdown of the system is impractical; and

(3) documented procedures are followed, and special equipment is used which will provide proven effective protection for employees.

(3) Purpose. Open (a)(3) 20 citations

(i) 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. Open (a)(3)(i) 20 citations

(ii) When other standards in this part require the use of lockout or tagout, they shall be used and supplemented by the procedural and training requirements of this section. Open (a)(3)(ii)