Variations in Group Lockout
There are a number of variations in group lockout; the group lockbox variation reduces the number of locks and makes it easier for workers to coordinate their activities.
How to Use a Group Lockout Box
If there will be more than one crew, department, or group involved in the activity, a single authorized employee must be designated to coordinate affected workforces and to ensure continuity of protection. For these more complicated energy-control systems, group lockout can reduce the number of lockout devices that workers must use.
Example: Ten workers do maintenance on a machine that has five individual energy sources that need to be isolated.
- Traditional lockout for this example would require 50 locks. (Each employee places a lock on each energy-isolating device.)
- Group lockout would require 15 locks. (A designated person in the group places a lock on each energy-isolating device. Each authorized employee places a lock on the group lockbox.)
Group lockout can also reduce the risk of injury for service and maintenance workers, contractors, and other affected workers who don't regularly work with complicated energy-control systems.
Master Lockbox: The lockbox into which all keys and tabs from the lockout or tagout devices securing the machine or equipment are inserted and which would be secured by a "job-lock" during multi-shift operations.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
8-4. When crews from multiple departments are performing lockout/tagout ____ must be designated to coordinate affected workforces and to ensure continuity of protection.
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