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F.A.Q.
Q. What is Lockout/Tagout?
A. Lockout/Tagout refers to the procedures established
for Control of Hazardous Energy as described by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) under Federal Registry 29 CFR1910.147.
Lockout/Tagout ensures employee safety during inspection, maintenance, or service of equipment by
controlling all energy flow to and from the equipment.
To achieve system lockout, all energy sources are turned off or disconnected, and stored energy is
released, restrained, or dissipated. A lock or lockout device applied to each energy source prevents
accidental startup.
Tagout refers to application of warning tags to energy sources to ensure the equipment is not restarted
until service has been completed. Tags may be used with locks for enhanced safety assurance, Where
lockout is not possible, tagout may be an alternative. Tagout alone is not as secure as is lockout.
Q. What is a Lockout/Tagout program?
A. Lockout/Tagout specification includes the following:
- Plant or company-wide safety policies.
- Machine-specific lockout procedures.
- Lock and key and tag control.
- Program review and certification.
- Outside contractor rules and regulations.
Training for employees includes classroom and hands-on instruction. Authorized employees must
demonstrate their proficiency in startup and shutdown procedures.
A copy of OSHA 29 CFR1910.147
should be readily available for reference.
Q. Who must have a Lockout/Tagout program?
A. All companies whose employees service or maintain equipment
with potentially hazardous energy sources must have an OSHA-compliant Lockout/Tagout program.
Q. What about outside contractors for maintenance and repair?
A. In addition to ensuring the safety of its own employees, the
employer is responsible for the outside contractor's on-site personnel. The Lockout/Tagout specification
must include policies, procedures, supervision, and authority for service involving contractors.
Q. Which energy sources require Lockout?
A. Any energy source that presents a potential hazard must be locked out.
- Electrical
- Pneumatic
- Hydraulic
- Compressed Gas
- Water
- Chemical
- Gravity
- Motion
- Rotation
- Thermal
Q. Is Lockout/Tagout training necessary?
A. Yes. Employees must attend courses presented by qualified instructors.
- Employees who maintain or service equipment must be fully trained in lockout/tagout procedures. They are "authorized" to conduct lockout/tagout.
- Operators who do not service or maintain the equipment they use are trained as "affected" employees.
- Employees who have little contact with the equipment receive "other" employee training so as to recognize but not actually perform the lockout/tagout procedure.
- All employees must be trained before working with or on the equipment. Employees receive retraining whenever they are assigned to new equipment.
Q. When is Lockout/Tagout necessary?
A. Lockout/Tagout is required whenever employees are exposed to hazardous energy. The program is designed to protect service and maintenance employees from unexpected startup. The OSHA standard includes the following activities:
- Construction
- Installation
- Setup
- Adjustment
- Inspection
- Modification
- Lubrication
- Tool Changes
- Cleaning
- Clearing Jams
Normal operations are not covered except under the following conditions:
- A safety guard is opened or removed.
- A safety device is missing or bypassed.
- An employee must enter the area where the equipment performs its operation.
- An employee must enter an area of associated operations.
During these conditions, the equipment must be deenergized through Lockout/Tagout.
Q. What are the exceptions to Lockout/Tagout requirements?
A. A few service and maintenance activities do not require Lockout/Tagout, provided they are performed using alternative protection measures:
- minor tool changes and adjustments.
- routine, repetitive service that is integral to normal production operations.
- cord and plug-connected equipment if the equipment is unplugged and under sole control of servicing employee.
- service on pressurized gas, steam, water, and petroleum products systems where continued operation is essential, shutdown is impractical, and alternative protection is provided.
Q. What is single-source equipment?
A. The machine or equipment has a single energy source that can be readily identified and isolated and has no potential for stored or residual energy or reaccumulation of stored energy. Single-source equipment does not require Lockout/Tagout.
Q. How long has St. Claire been in business?
A. 60 years.
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