Hazardous Energy Control Procedures

The following information comes from FirstComp Insurance.  A full version can be found here.

Hazardous energy control — more commonly known as lockout/ tagout . procedures are an important, though frequently overlooked, component of many safety & health programs.  These procedures are designed to protect employees from being injured, or worse, by the accidental startup or movement of machinery or equipment that they are working on. The standard on which all lockout programs are based is OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.147 .The Control of Hazardous Energy. You must have a control of hazardous energy program if any employees perform maintenance work on machinery or equipment that either:

  •  Exposes them to injury if the equipment were to accidentally be started, or
  •  Exposes them to injury if an unexpected release of hazardous energy were to occur, such as a blast of steam, corrosive chemical or electrical arc flash.

Some examples of tasks commonly performed by employees that would usually require lockout are: 

  •  Replacing belts on machinery, and vehicle engines 
  •  Disassembling equipment to replace/repair motors or pumps; 
  •  Maintenance on electric/ hydraulic equipment;
  •  Boiler repairs
  •  Working on engines and drive trains of vehicles/mobile equipment;
  •  Working under elevated buckets, booms, or dump bodies of vehicles and mobile equipment
  •  Changing saw blades;
  •  Electrical work where employees are exposed to conductors under the assumption that they are .off., like replacing light ballasts;
  •  Repair work or clearing jams on conveyors

A good lockout program should be specific to your operations and equipment. Essential elements of a Lockout program include;

1. A written hazardous energy control policy

2. Equipment specific lockout procedures

3. Lockout equipment

4. Employee training

5. Guidelines and training for contractors and other outside employers

6. Periodic program evaluation

7. Recordkeeping guidelines

Although lockout accidents are not as common as other mishaps, but when they do occur, they may result in serious injury or death. Do not wait for an accident to determine whether