Compliance With Group Lockout Tagout Treatments

Aug 15, 2012 by madelainew67

Group lockout/tagout methods should be tailored to the specific function and be distinctive in the way they protect personnel from the discharge of dangerous energy. Class functions generally require that a lockout/tagout program ensure that each approved worker is protected from the unexpected release of dangerous energy by his personal lockout system. No employee may affix the personal lockout/tagout device of another employee.Steps in Group Lockout/TagoutBefore the machine or equipment is shutdown, each authorized employee, who’ll be involved in the maintenance or maintenance, should be made aware of:The variety, scale, and hazards of the energy that’s to be controlled.The process or means that will be used to handle it.If the equipment has already been power down, the authorized employee should be made aware of this before he begins work.An organized shutdown is completed.All energy isolating devices shall be effectively positioned or installed.Authorized employees who are performing the service or maintenance shall privately affix an or tag upon each energy isolating device.The company procedure must guarantee that no employee affixes a lock or tag for another employee.A simple lock upon each energy isolating device, together with the use of a lockbox for the keys and to which each authorized employee affixes his personal lock or tag, will also satisfy the requirement.Locks shall be affixed in such a that the energy isolating device is kept in the off (safe) position.Tagout devices, when used, must be affixed at the same area as a lock would be and should clearly show that movement of the energy isolating device is prohibited.After the locks or tags have been used, all perhaps hazardous stored energy or extra energy must be relieved, disconnected, restrained and rendered safe.Monitoring may be done by observation alone or with the use of a that will sound an alarm if your amount of hazardous energy is being approached.Authorized employees must examine that isolation and de-energization has been accomplished before work is started.Verification is also necessary by each group of employees at shift change before any tasks are started.Release from Lockout/TagoutThe company must have a procedure which identifies each authorized employee who is involved in the servicing/maintenance work.During all group lockout/tagout procedures where the discharge of hazardous energy is possible, each authorized employee who is performing service or maintenance must be guarded by his personal lockout or tagout device.Once the work has been completed, the machine or equipment area should be cleaned of non-essential items to prevent failures which could cause employee injury.Authorized employees should each eliminate their locks or tags from the energy isolating devices or the group lock container, following company procedures.Before re-energization, all employees in the machine or equipment area must be moved away or safely positioned. All influenced employees must be informed that the lockout/tagout devices have now been removed.Complex procedures that last many days, even months, and influence several employees, need even more descriptive lockout/tagout procedures due to their security.

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