Lockout/Tagout Procedures
Lockout/tagout is an essential safety procedure to protect workers from injury while working on or near electrical circuits and equipment.
Lockout/tagout also prevents contact with operating equipment parts such as blades, gears, shafts, etc., and prevents the unexpected release of hazardous gases, fluids, or solid matter in areas where workers are present.
To protect against being electrocuted, workers need to follow lockout/tagout procedures. If performing lockout/tagout on circuits and equipment, you may use the following checklist.
- Identify all sources of electrical energy for equipment or circuits.
- Disable backup energy sources.
- Identify all shut-offs for each energy source.
- Notify all personnel of shut off, lockout/tagout.
- Shut off energy sources and lock switch gear in the OFF position.
- A qualified person must verify equipment is de-energized.
- Deplete stored energy by bleeding, blocking, grounding, etc.
- Apply a lock/tag to alert other workers of lockout/tagout.
- Make sure all workers are safe and accounted for prior to release from lockout/tagout.
Only qualified persons may work on electric circuit parts or equipment that has not been de-energized. Such persons must be capable of working safely on energized circuits and must be familiar with the proper use of special precautionary techniques, PPE, insulating and shielding materials, and insulated tools.
Real-Life Accidents
In 2024, a worker at a hardwood flooring manufacturer suffered a partial arm amputation while operating a rip saw. OSHA found that the company had failed to implement proper machine guarding, to protect workers from the blades, and lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures, critical safeguards designed to prevent machines from unexpectedly starting during maintenance or repair tasks. As a result, the saw unexpectedly activated, leading to a life-altering injury for this employee.
Oversights and unsafe practices ultimately resulted in a proposed fine of $255,000 for the company, reflecting the severity of their safety violations.
Description of Accident
An electrician was removing metal fish tape (a fish tape is used to pull wire through a conduit run) from a hole at the base of a metal light pole. The fish tape became energized, electrocuting him.
Inspection Results
As a result of its inspection, OSHA issued a citation for three serious violations of the agency's construction standards. Had requirements for de-energizing energy sources been followed, the electrocution might have been prevented.
What would you recommend?
Recommendations
- Ensure all circuits are de-energized before beginning work - 1926.416(a)(3).
- Controls to be deactivated during the course of work on energized or de-energized equipment or circuits must be tagged - 29 CFR 1926.417(a).
- Employees must be instructed to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions associated with their work - 1926.21(b)(2).
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-10. When using lockout/tagout, be sure to identify _____.
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