Introduction to Rule Requirements
Energy Control Program (ECP) Purpose
Information about the Energy Control Program (ECP) is found in 29 CFR 1910.147, Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout).
The purpose of the ECP is to provide written policies and rules within your safety management system that help prevent injury to workers due to the unexpected startup of machines and equipment, or release of stored energy.
Scope of Lockout/Tagout Rule
Employers must establish an Energy Control Program (ECP), comprised of three core components: energy control procedures; employee training, and periodic inspections to ensure machines and equipment that could unexpectedly startup, become energized, or release stored energy, are isolated from their energy source(s) and rendered safe before service and maintenance are performed.
- Energy control procedures detail and document the specific information that an authorized employee must know to accomplish lockout/tagout, i.e., the scope, purpose, authorization rules and techniques to be used for the control of hazardous energy.
- Periodic inspections of the energy control procedures ensure that the procedures are effective and the requirements of the standard are being followed.
- Employee training and retraining, along with additional training under a tagout system, ensure that authorized, affected, and other employees understand the purpose and function of the energy control programs.
A 29-year-old temporary worker at a food processing plant suffered critical injuries and a leg amputation after falling into an industrial blender while cleaning it during an overnight shift. OSHA found the company had failed to train workers on proper lockout procedures to prevent movement during cleaning and maintenance. As a result, OSHA cited the plant for multiple violations, amounting to $1.9 million in proposed penalties.
To prevent similar accidents, OSHA recommends that employers in the food manufacturing industry follow recognized safety standards, including proper training on lockout/tagout procedures and ensuring compliance with machine safety procedures.
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1-1. What is the purpose of the Energy Control Program (ECP)?
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