Lockout/Tagout for Authorized Employees

Servicing and maintenance, not normal production

An authorized employee is a person who locks out or tags out machines or equipment in order to service or maintain them. The standard applies to controlling energy during servicing and maintenance. That includes lubrication, cleaning, unjamming, adjustments and tool changes where you may be exposed to unexpected startup or release of hazardous energy.

During normal production

Normal production operations are not covered. Servicing during production is covered if you must:

• Remove or bypass a guard or other safety device, or
• Put any part of your body into the point of operation or an associated danger zone during a machine operating cycle

Your employer must train you so that the purpose and function of its energy control program are understood.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.147(a)(2)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.147(b) "Servicing and/or maintenance" · 29 CFR 1910.147(a)(2)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.147(a)(2)(ii)(A) · 29 CFR 1910.147(a)(2)(ii)(B) · 29 CFR 1910.147(a)(2)(ii) Note · 29 CFR 1910.147(a)(2)(iii)(A) · 29 CFR 1910.147(b) "Authorized employee" · 29 CFR 1910.147(a)(2)(iii)(B) · 29 CFR 1910.147(a)(1)(ii)(A) · 29 CFR 1910.147(a)(1)(ii)(B) · 29 CFR 1910.147(a)(1)(ii)(C) · 29 CFR 1910.147(a)(1)(ii)(D) · 29 CFR 1910.147(a)(1)(ii)(E) · 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)

The six steps, in order

Before you start, affected employees must be notified (by the employer or the authorized employee) before the controls are applied. Then the procedure is done in this sequence:

1. Prepare. Know the type and magnitude of the energy, its hazards, and how to control it.
2. Shut down. Turn the machine off using its established procedure, in an orderly way that does not create added hazards.
3. Isolate. Locate and operate every energy isolating device needed to isolate the machine from its energy sources.
4. Apply devices. Affix a lockout or tagout device to each energy isolating device.
5. Control stored energy. Relieve, disconnect, restrain or otherwise make safe all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy. If it could build back up to a hazardous level, keep verifying isolation until the work is done or that possibility is gone.
6. Verify. Before starting work, verify that isolation and deenergization have been accomplished.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.147(d) · 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(2) · 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(3) · 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(4)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(5)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(5)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(6) · 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(9) · 29 CFR 1910.147(b) "Energy isolating device"

Your devices, and the limits of tags

• Lockout or tagout is performed only by the authorized employees who are performing the servicing or maintenance. Nobody locks out for you.
• Your lockout and tagout devices must show your identity.
• Tags must warn against hazardous conditions and carry a legend such as Do Not Start, Do Not Open, Do Not Close, Do Not Energize, Do Not Operate.
• If a tag is used on a device that can be locked, fasten it at the same point the lock would go. If a tag cannot go directly on the device, place it as close as safely possible, where anyone trying to operate the device will see it immediately.

Limits of tags

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(8) · 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(D) · 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(iii) · 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(4)(iii)(A) · 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(4)(iii)(B) · 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(ii)(A) · 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(ii)(B) · 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(ii)(E)

Taking your lock off

Before devices come off and energy is restored:

1. Machine: inspect the work area so nonessential items are removed and components are operationally intact.
2. People: check that all employees are safely positioned or removed.
3. Remove: each device is removed by the employee who applied it.
4. Notify: after devices are removed and before the machine is started, affected employees are told.

Testing or positioning

If devices must come off temporarily to energize and test or position the machine, follow this order: clear tools and materials, remove employees from the area, remove the devices, energize and test or position, then deenergize and reapply energy control to continue the work.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.147(e)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.147(e)(2)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.147(e)(2)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.147(e)(3) · 29 CFR 1910.147(f)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.147(e)(3)(iii) · 29 CFR 1910.147(e)(3)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.147(e)(3)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.147(f)(1)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.147(f)(1)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.147(f)(1)(iii) · 29 CFR 1910.147(f)(1)(iv) · 29 CFR 1910.147(f)(1)(v)

Group lockout and shift changes

Working as a crew

When a crew or other group services a machine, the group procedure must protect each worker as well as a personal lock would. Primary responsibility goes to one authorized employee for a set number of workers under the group device.

Shift and personnel changes

Specific procedures must keep lockout or tagout protection continuous during shift or personnel changes, including an orderly transfer of protection between off-going and oncoming employees.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.147(f)(3)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.147(f)(3)(ii)(A) · 29 CFR 1910.147(f)(3)(ii)(D) · 29 CFR 1910.147(f)(4)

The periodic inspection, at least once a year

Your employer must inspect each energy control procedure at least annually to make sure it and the standard are being followed.

• The inspector is an authorized employee other than the one(s) using the procedure being inspected. If you are an authorized employee who does not use that procedure, that may be you.
• Lockout: the inspector reviews with each authorized employee that employee's responsibilities under the procedure.
• Tagout: the review includes each authorized and affected employee, plus the limits of tags.
• The employer certifies the inspection, recording the machine, the date, the employees included and the inspector.

When you will be retrained

• A change in your job assignment
• A change in machines, equipment or processes that presents a new hazard
• A change in the energy control procedures
• An inspection reveals, or the employer has reason to believe, there are gaps in your knowledge or use of the procedures

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i)(A) · 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i)(C) · 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i)(D) · 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(iii)(A) · 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(iii)(B)

Common test questions

When is lockout/tagout required?

When an employee must put any part of the body into the machine's point of operation or danger zone, or remove/bypass a guard, during servicing or maintenance.

Rule: 29 CFR 1910.147(a)(2)(ii)

What makes a tagout device effective?

It is durable, standardized, non-reusable, self-locking, attaches by hand with at least 50 pounds unlocking strength, and identifies the person who applied it.

Rule: 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)

Must you apply your own lock and tag?

True. Each lock or tag must identify the employee who applied it, and only that employee removes it.

Rule: 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(D), (e)(3)

How often must energy control procedures be inspected?

At least once a year, by an authorized employee other than the ones using the procedure being inspected.

Rule: 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i)

What is the difference between an authorized and an affected employee?

An authorized employee locks or tags out machines to service them; an affected employee operates or uses the machine, or works in the area where the servicing is done.

Rule: 29 CFR 1910.147(b)

Practice these in the course