Control the Power of Your Lockout/Tagout Training

The objective of the following exercise is to evaluate authorized employees' understanding of hazardous energy sources and control of hazardous energy with lockout/tagout.

Instructions:

1. Discuss your workplace lockout/tagout program and procedures. Bring lockout/tagout devices that are used at your operation and review their uses.______________________________________________________
2. List the types of energy sources at your workplace. Identify the equipment at your workplace that needs to be locked out.
   ________________________________________________________
3. Discuss an incident or near miss when equipment accidentally started. What was the root cause? What was changed to prevent reoccurrence?
   ________________________________________________________
4. Choose a machine or piece of equipment subject to lockout/tagout. Identify all energy sources that have to be locked out/tagged out before anyone can service or repair the machine or equipment. Have an authorized employee demonstrate your company's specific shutdown and restart procedures.
   
   Note any recommendations or observations during the exercise, and discuss them with the appropriate personnel.

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Guidance

The following are examples of lockout/tagout and restart procedures.
The lockout/tagout procedures must include the following steps:

1. Preparing for shutdown,
2. Shutting down the machine(s) or equipment,
3. Isolating the machine or equipment from the energy source(s),
4. Supplying the lockout or tagout device(s) to the energy-isolating device(s),
5. Safely releasing all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy, and
6. Verifying the isolation of the machine(s) or equipment before the start of service or maintenance work.

        
In addition, before lockout or tagout devices are removed and energy is restored to the machines or equipment, certain steps must be taken to reenergize equipment after service is completed, including:

1. Ensuring that machines or equipment components are operationally intact; and
2. Notifying affected employees that lockout or tagout devices are removed from each energy-isolating device by the employee who applied the device.   

Remember

All employees must understand the purpose, function, and restrictions of the energy control program and understand that authorized employees possess the knowledge and skills necessary for the safe application, use, and removal of energy controls.

Why It Matters

• Almost 3 million workers in the United States are at risk every day from uncontrolled energy when servicing equipment—there are roughly 3,600 disabling and 4,000 nondisabling electrical contact injuries every year.
• In many cases, injuries could have been avoided by simply turning off equipment.
• According to a recent survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 80% of workers fail to turn off equipment before performing service work.
• In a recent year, more employers failed to comply with OSHA's strict lockout/tagout regulations than any other standard except hazard communication.