Environmental Health & Safety
Control of Hazardous Energy
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Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)
- PURPOSE
- PERSONNEL AFFECTED
- DEFINITIONS
- RESPONSIBILITIES
- PROCEDURES
- REFERENCES
- APPENDICES/FORMS
Appendix A: Lockout/Tagout Tags and Locks
Appendix B: Equipment Specific Lockout/Tagout Procedure Development Form
Appendix C: Abandoned Lock Removal Form
Appendix D: Lockout/Tagout Evaluation Checklist - REVISION HISTORY
Affected Employee: An employee whose job assignment requires him/her to operate or use a machine or equipment on which servicing or maintenance is being performed under lockout or tagout, or whose job assignment requires him/her to work in an area in which such servicing or maintenance is being performed.
Authorized Employee: A person who locks or implements a lockout/tagout procedure on machines or equipment to perform servicing or maintenance on the machine or equipment. An affected employee becomes an authorized employee when the employee's duties include performing service or maintenance on the equipment.
Blanking/Blinding: The absolute closure of a pipe, line, or duct by fastening a solid plate that completely covers or blocks the bore and that is capable of withstanding the maximum pressure of the pipe, line, or duct with no leakage beyond the plate.
Capable Of Being Locked Out: An energy-isolating device will be considered to be capable of being locked out if it is designed with a hasp or other means of attachment or integral part to which, or through which, a lock can be affixed, or if it has a locking mechanism built into it. All energy isolating devices are assumed to be capable of being locked out unless proven otherwise to EHS’s Occupational Safety Unit.
Cord and Plug Electrical Equipment: Equipment that can be isolated by unplugging the equipment from the energy source and the plug remaining under the exclusive control of the employee performing the servicing or maintenance work.
Double Block and Bleed: The closure of a pipe, line, or duct by closing and locking or tagging two inline valves and by opening and locking or tagging a drain or vent valve in the line between the closed valves.
Energized: A machine or equipment that is connected to an energy source or containing stored or residual energy.
Energy Isolating Device: A mechanical device that physically prevents the transmission or release of energy, including but not limited tog: a manually operated electrical circuit breaker, a disconnect switch, a manually operated switch by which the conductors of a circuit can be disconnected from all ungrounded supply conductors and, in addition, no pole can be operated independently; a line valve; a block; and any similar device used to block or isolate energy. Push buttons, selector switches, and other control circuit type devices are not energy isolating devices.
Energy Source/Hazardous Energy: Any source of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, gravity, spring tension/compression, gas, steam, weights/counter weights, wind, or other energy that could cause in whole or part an unexpected start up or movement of equipment, machinery, vehicles, or the release of pressure, which can cause injury.
Group Lockout/Tagout: Procedures for multi-craft, department, crew, or other groups to perform a group lockout/tagout procedure when completing multi-craft or crew service and maintenance work assignments with the potential for unexpected energization or release of stored hazardous energy.
Hot Tap: A procedure used in the repair, maintenance and services activities which involves welding on a piece of equipment (pipelines, vessels or tanks) under pressure in order to install connections or appurtenances.
Lockout: The placement of a lockout device on an energy isolating device, in accordance with established procedure, ensuring the energy isolating device and equipment being controlled cannot be operated until the lockout device has been removed.
Lockout Device: A device that utilizes a positive means such as a lock to hold an energy isolating device in a safe position and prevent the energizing of a machine or equipment. Tags must accompany lockouts.
Lockout/Tagout: LOTO should be thought of as rendering machinery, pipelines or equipment to a Zero Energy State. LOTO is concerned with all forms of energy, not just electricity.
LockoutTagout Procedure: A written document containing information regarding University procedures for control of hazardous energy such as the unexpected energization, startup, or release of stored energy and ensuring machines or equipment are isolated and inoperative prior to performing service or maintenance.
Occupational Safety (OS): The unit of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) whose objective is to provide guidance in matters of health and safety, and assistance to departments and employees in evaluating risk.
Stored or Residual Energy: Any device that is capable of holding energy after equipment is shutdown. Stored or residual energy may be, but is not limited to electricity (capacitors), air pressure (pneumatic), liquid pressure (hydraulic), tanks, pipes, springs, gravity, wind, head pressure, or flywheels. Be aware that fan blades can unexpectedly rotate or turn (freewheel) due to gravity, wind or other forces.
Tagout Device: A prominent warning device, such as a tag and means of attachment, which can be securely fastened to an energy isolating device in accordance with an established procedure, to indicate that the energy isolating device and the equipment being controlled may not be operated until the tagout device is removed. Tagouts must accompany lockouts.
Verify/Verification: Process of effectively ensuring the isolation and safe release of energy that may cause equipment start up or other source on injury.
QUESTIONS or COMMENTS?
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This page last updated 5/21/2018. Disclaimer.
