Lock Out / Tag Out (LOTO)
Lock-Out / Tag-Out (LOTO) Policy
Lockout/Tag-out” refers to specific practices and procedures to safeguard employees from the unexpected energization or startup of machinery and equipment, or the release of hazardous energy during service or maintenance activities. All Energy Group employees must follow proper LOTO procedures as required by type of equipment, machine or facility system such as electrical, lift or other system that is typically associated with maintenance or operating procedures that MUST be followed. Ask your supervisor what equipment, facility system or maintenance procedure requires LOTO to be followed.
In general:
• “Lockout” is the placement of a lockout device on an energy-isolating device, in accordance with an established procedure, ensuring that the energy-isolating device and the equipment being controlled cannot be operated until the lockout device is removed.
• “Tag-out” is the placement of a tag-out device on 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 tag-out device is removed.
References: “OSHA Standard for the Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout / Tag-out)” 29 CFR 1910.147 and OSHA Publication 3120 “Control of Hazardous Energy – Lockout/Tag- out”
The OSHA Standard for the Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tag-out) 29 CFR 1910.147 covers the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment in which the unexpected start-up or the release of stored energy could cause injury to employees.
What Does LOTO Require?
• Lockout/Tag out requires, in part, that a designated individual turns off and disconnects the machinery or equipment from its energy sources(s) before performing service or maintenance. That the authorized employee(s) either lock or tag the energy-isolating device(s) to prevent the release of hazardous energy and take steps to verify that the energy has been isolated effectively.
• If the potential exists for the release of hazardous stored energy or for the re-accumulation of stored energy to a hazardous level, the employer must ensure that the employee(s) take steps to prevent injury that may result from the release of the stored energy.
Commonly Used LOTO Terms
• Affected Employee – An employee whose job requires him/her to operate or use a machine or equipment, on which servicing or maintenance is being performed, under lockout tag out.
• Authorized Employee – A person who locks out or tags out machines or equipment in
order to perform servicing or maintenance on, that machine or equipment.
• Energy Source – Any source of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, or other energy.
• Lock-Out Device – Uses a positive means such as a lock to hold an energy isolating device in the safe position and prevent the energizing of a machine or equipment.
• Tag-Out Device – A prominent warning device which can be securely fastened to an energy-isolating device.
• Energy-Isolating Device – A mechanical device that physically prevents the transmission or release of energy.
What Employees Need to Know about LOTO
“Authorized employees”
• Hazardous energy source recognition.
• The type & magnitude of the hazardous energy sources in the workplace.
• Energy-control procedures, including the methods and means to isolate & control those energy sources.
“Affected employees”
• Recognize when the energy-control procedure is being used.
• Understand the purpose of the procedure.
• Understand the importance of not tampering with lockout or tag-out devices and not starting or using equipment that has been locked or tagged out.
“Other employees”
• Must receive instruction regarding the energy-control procedure and the prohibition against removing a LOTO device and attempting to restart, reenergize, or operate the machinery.
• If tag-out devices are used, all employees must receive training regarding the limitations of tags.
What is Hazardous Energy?
The Standard applies to all sources of energy, including but not limited to, Mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical and thermal energy.
1. Hydraulic: Pressurized Oil
2. Mechanical: Moving machine parts
3. Electricity: Live or stored
4. Thermal Energy: Stored heat (steam lines or hot liquids)
5. Hydraulic Energy: Stored energy (steam or hydraulic fluid)
6. Chemicals in pipelines under pressure or force of gravity.
7. Any other active or stored energy sources that could harm a worker.
Hazardous Energy Source Examples
1. Live electrical lines
2. Electrical capacitors
3. Lasers
4. Hydraulic lifts
5. Pneumatic (air pressure) lines
6. Springs
What Kind of Injuries Can Happen?
• Shock or electrocution from live parts
• Scalding from steam or hot liquids
• Chemical burns or poisoning
• From machinery:
• Deep cuts and gashes
• Crushing injuries
• Amputations
Fatalities & Causes for injuries:
• Failure to stop equipment
• Failure to disconnect the power source
• Failure to dissipate residual (stored) energy
• Accidental restarting of equipment
• Failure to clean work area before reactivation
When is Lockout / Tag-out Required?
When someone will be servicing or repairing machinery or equipment and the unexpected machinery start-up or release of stored energy, could cause injury.
LOTO vs. Machine Guarding
Machine guarding protects the operator from the hazards of the machine while under NORMAL operating conditions.
Lockout / Tag-out refers to a practice to safeguard employees from the unexpected energization or startup of machinery and equipment, or the release of hazardous energy during service or maintenance activities. Lockout devices hold energy-isolation devices in a safe or “off” position. They provide protection by preventing machines or equipment from becoming energized, because they are locked out and no one can remove the lock (without a key or other unlocking mechanism, such as bolt cutters.)
What is a Lockout Device?
A device that positively prevents machinery from:
• Being started or Turned on
• Parts from moving
• Becoming electrically energized
• Discharging a pipeline, steam line or air line
Group Lockout Devices
• Used when more than one person doing maintenance or repair, on same machine or equipment.
• Machinery or equipment can’t be started up until all locks are removed.
• Each person places and removes their own lock.
What is Tag-out?
• They don’t provide the same physical restraint or level of protection as lockout devices.
• Tags may evoke a false sense of security.
• They can only be removed by an authorized person.
• They must be legible, securely attached and resistant to degradation.
Requirements for LOTO Devices
• The employer must provide these devices and they must be singularly identified and not used for other purposes.
• They must be durable enough to withstand workplace conditions.
• Standardized enough to minimize the likelihood of premature or accidentally removal. and
• Labeled to identify the specific employees authorized to apply and remove them.
Energy-Control Procedures Must:
• Outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules and techniques that employees will use to control hazardous energy sources, as well as the means that will be used to enforce compliance. These procedures must provide employees at least the following information:
• A statement on how to use the procedures
• Specific procedural steps to shut down, isolate, block, and secure machines
• Specific steps designating the safe placement, removal and transfer of LOTO devices and identifying who has responsibility for the LOTO devices.
• Specific requirements for testing machines to determine & verify the effectiveness of LOTO devices and other energy-control measures
Lockout Procedures
1. Notify affected employees that machine or equipment will be shut down and locked out.
2. Shut down the machinery or equipment.
3. Isolate energy sources with energy-isolating devices.
4. Lock out energy-isolating devices with assigned locks.
5. Release or restrain stored or residual energy.
6. Test machinery to make sure it can’t start up.
What do I do if I cannot Lockout the Equipment?
• If the energy-isolating device associated with the machinery cannot be locked out, you must securely fasten a tag-out device as close as safely possible to the energy-isolating device. Apply in a manner where it will be immediately obvious to anyone attempting to operate the device.
• You also must meet all the tag-out provisions of the standard.
• The tag alerts employees to the hazard of re-energization and states that employees may not operate the machinery to which it is attached until the tag is removed in accordance with proper procedure.
Start-Up Procedures
1. All operators or employees on or near the job site are warned to stay clear
2. Remove all tools, locks and tags
3. Remove, reverse, open or reactivate isolating devices
4. Visual check that all is clear
5. Startup machine, process or line flow
Lock-Out / Tag-Out (LOTO) Policy
Lockout/Tag-out” refers to specific practices and procedures to safeguard employees from the unexpected energization or startup of machinery and equipment, or the release of hazardous energy during service or maintenance activities. All Energy Group employees must follow proper LOTO procedures as required by type of equipment, machine or facility system such as electrical, lift or other system that is typically associated with maintenance or operating procedures that MUST be followed. Ask your supervisor what equipment, facility system or maintenance procedure requires LOTO to be followed.
In general:
• “Lockout” is the placement of a lockout device on an energy-isolating device, in accordance with an established procedure, ensuring that the energy-isolating device and the equipment being controlled cannot be operated until the lockout device is removed.
• “Tag-out” is the placement of a tag-out device on 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 tag-out device is removed.
References: “OSHA Standard for the Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout / Tag-out)” 29 CFR 1910.147 and OSHA Publication 3120 “Control of Hazardous Energy – Lockout/Tag- out”
The OSHA Standard for the Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tag-out) 29 CFR 1910.147 covers the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment in which the unexpected start-up or the release of stored energy could cause injury to employees.
What Does LOTO Require?
• Lockout/Tag out requires, in part, that a designated individual turns off and disconnects the machinery or equipment from its energy sources(s) before performing service or maintenance. That the authorized employee(s) either lock or tag the energy-isolating device(s) to prevent the release of hazardous energy and take steps to verify that the energy has been isolated effectively.
• If the potential exists for the release of hazardous stored energy or for the re-accumulation of stored energy to a hazardous level, the employer must ensure that the employee(s) take steps to prevent injury that may result from the release of the stored energy.
Commonly Used LOTO Terms
• Affected Employee – An employee whose job requires him/her to operate or use a machine or equipment, on which servicing or maintenance is being performed, under lockout tag out.
• Authorized Employee – A person who locks out or tags out machines or equipment in
order to perform servicing or maintenance on, that machine or equipment.
• Energy Source – Any source of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, or other energy.
• Lock-Out Device – Uses a positive means such as a lock to hold an energy isolating device in the safe position and prevent the energizing of a machine or equipment.
• Tag-Out Device – A prominent warning device which can be securely fastened to an energy-isolating device.
• Energy-Isolating Device – A mechanical device that physically prevents the transmission or release of energy.
What Employees Need to Know about LOTO
“Authorized employees”
• Hazardous energy source recognition.
• The type & magnitude of the hazardous energy sources in the workplace.
• Energy-control procedures, including the methods and means to isolate & control those energy sources.
“Affected employees”
• Recognize when the energy-control procedure is being used.
• Understand the purpose of the procedure.
• Understand the importance of not tampering with lockout or tag-out devices and not starting or using equipment that has been locked or tagged out.
“Other employees”
• Must receive instruction regarding the energy-control procedure and the prohibition against removing a LOTO device and attempting to restart, reenergize, or operate the machinery.
• If tag-out devices are used, all employees must receive training regarding the limitations of tags.
What is Hazardous Energy?
The Standard applies to all sources of energy, including but not limited to, Mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical and thermal energy.
1. Hydraulic: Pressurized Oil
2. Mechanical: Moving machine parts
3. Electricity: Live or stored
4. Thermal Energy: Stored heat (steam lines or hot liquids)
5. Hydraulic Energy: Stored energy (steam or hydraulic fluid)
6. Chemicals in pipelines under pressure or force of gravity.
7. Any other active or stored energy sources that could harm a worker.
Hazardous Energy Source Examples
1. Live electrical lines
2. Electrical capacitors
3. Lasers
4. Hydraulic lifts
5. Pneumatic (air pressure) lines
6. Springs
What Kind of Injuries Can Happen?
• Shock or electrocution from live parts
• Scalding from steam or hot liquids
• Chemical burns or poisoning
• From machinery:
• Deep cuts and gashes
• Crushing injuries
• Amputations
Fatalities & Causes for injuries:
• Failure to stop equipment
• Failure to disconnect the power source
• Failure to dissipate residual (stored) energy
• Accidental restarting of equipment
• Failure to clean work area before reactivation
When is Lockout / Tag-out Required?
When someone will be servicing or repairing machinery or equipment and the unexpected machinery start-up or release of stored energy, could cause injury.
LOTO vs. Machine Guarding
Machine guarding protects the operator from the hazards of the machine while under NORMAL operating conditions.
Lockout / Tag-out refers to a practice to safeguard employees from the unexpected energization or startup of machinery and equipment, or the release of hazardous energy during service or maintenance activities. Lockout devices hold energy-isolation devices in a safe or “off” position. They provide protection by preventing machines or equipment from becoming energized, because they are locked out and no one can remove the lock (without a key or other unlocking mechanism, such as bolt cutters.)
What is a Lockout Device?
A device that positively prevents machinery from:
• Being started or Turned on
• Parts from moving
• Becoming electrically energized
• Discharging a pipeline, steam line or air line
Group Lockout Devices
• Used when more than one person doing maintenance or repair, on same machine or equipment.
• Machinery or equipment can’t be started up until all locks are removed.
• Each person places and removes their own lock.
What is Tag-out?
• They don’t provide the same physical restraint or level of protection as lockout devices.
• Tags may evoke a false sense of security.
• They can only be removed by an authorized person.
• They must be legible, securely attached and resistant to degradation.
Requirements for LOTO Devices
• The employer must provide these devices and they must be singularly identified and not used for other purposes.
• They must be durable enough to withstand workplace conditions.
• Standardized enough to minimize the likelihood of premature or accidentally removal. and
• Labeled to identify the specific employees authorized to apply and remove them.
Energy-Control Procedures Must:
• Outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules and techniques that employees will use to control hazardous energy sources, as well as the means that will be used to enforce compliance. These procedures must provide employees at least the following information:
• A statement on how to use the procedures
• Specific procedural steps to shut down, isolate, block, and secure machines
• Specific steps designating the safe placement, removal and transfer of LOTO devices and identifying who has responsibility for the LOTO devices.
• Specific requirements for testing machines to determine & verify the effectiveness of LOTO devices and other energy-control measures
Lockout Procedures
1. Notify affected employees that machine or equipment will be shut down and locked out.
2. Shut down the machinery or equipment.
3. Isolate energy sources with energy-isolating devices.
4. Lock out energy-isolating devices with assigned locks.
5. Release or restrain stored or residual energy.
6. Test machinery to make sure it can’t start up.
What do I do if I cannot Lockout the Equipment?
• If the energy-isolating device associated with the machinery cannot be locked out, you must securely fasten a tag-out device as close as safely possible to the energy-isolating device. Apply in a manner where it will be immediately obvious to anyone attempting to operate the device.
• You also must meet all the tag-out provisions of the standard.
• The tag alerts employees to the hazard of re-energization and states that employees may not operate the machinery to which it is attached until the tag is removed in accordance with proper procedure.
Start-Up Procedures
1. All operators or employees on or near the job site are warned to stay clear
2. Remove all tools, locks and tags
3. Remove, reverse, open or reactivate isolating devices
4. Visual check that all is clear
5. Startup machine, process or line flow
