Environmental Health & Safety

Portland State University Energy Control Program
(Lockout/Tagout)


The purpose of the Portland State University (PSU) Energy Control Program is to clearly define procedures for the control of hazardous energy.  These procedures cover the servicing and maintenance of equipment in which the unexpected energizing, start up, or release of stored energy could cause serious injury to employees.  All sources of energy, including electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, gravitational, and thermal need to be considered.  The primary method of control of hazardous energy will be accomplished by utilization of lockout/tagout procedures.

SCOPE

The following procedure will apply to all PSU employees.  Individual departments will be given the responsibility of identifying equipment and machinery which will be subject to the general Lockout/Tagout procedures as well as identifying employees who will be affected.  Supervisors are responsible for identifying equipment having the characteristics as defined above and for providing instruction in the lockout/tagout procedures to employees who work on that equipment.

If one or more of the following conditions exis, the responsible department shall provide a machine specific lockout/tagout procedure:
  1. The machine or equipment has potential for stored or residual energy or re-accumulation of stored energy after shut down.

  2. The machine or equipment has more than a single energy source which can be readily identified and isolated.

  3. The isolation and locking out of that energy source will not completely de-energize and deactivate the machine or equipment.

  4. The machine or equipment is not isolated from that energy source and locked out during servicing or maintenance.

  5. A single lockout device will not achieve a locked-out condition.

  6. The lockout device is not under the exclusive control of the authorized employee performing the servicing or maintenance.

  7. The servicing or maintenance could create hazards for other employees.

  8. The employer, when using the general lockout procedure, has had an accident involving the unexpected activation or re-energization of the machine or equipment during servicing or maintenance.  
Departments may have their own specific procedures in addition to the PSU procedures.

Employees trained in lockout/tagout procedures will be designated as authorized employees. Other employees working on or around this equipment but not trained in the lockout/tagout procedures will be known as affected employees.
  • Authorized employee.   A person who locks out or tags out machines or equipment in order to perform servicing or maintenance on that machine or equipment.  An affected employee becomes an authorized employee when that employee’s duties include performing servicing or maintenance covered under this section.

  • Affected employee.  An employee whose job requires him/her to operate or use a machine or equipment on which servicing or maintenance is being performed under lockout or tagout, or whose job requires him/her to work in an area in which such servicing or maintenance is being performed.
The basic rule mandates that all equipment shall be locked or tagged to protect against accidental or inadvertent operation when such operation could cause injury to personnel.

LOCKOUT VERSUS TAGOUT

Lockout shall be the exclusive method used for the isolation of all energy sources which are designed to accept a locking device.

Tagout devices, such as tags or signs, must be used if a locking device cannot be attached to the control switch or valve.  Tags and their means of attachment are to be substantial enough to prevent inadvertent or accidental removal.  Nylon cable ties with a minimum of 50 lb. breaking strength are the recommended method of tag attachment.  A supervisor shall be notified when equipment is identified that is not capable of accepting a locking device.

The energy control switch or valve for the equipment shall be made to be able to accept a locking device whenever new equipment is installed or whenever work including replacement, major repair, renovation or modification is performed.

SEQUENCE OF LOCKOUT OR TAGOUT SYSTEM PROCEDURES

The following sequence of lockout or tagout procedures shall be followed in all cases in which an employee is required to remove or bypass a guard or other safety device(s), when an employee is required to place any part of his/her body into an area on a piece of equipment at the point of operation or where an associated danger exists during an operating cycle.
  1. Prior to turning off the equipment the employee shall have knowledge of the type and magnitude of the energy, the hazards of the energy to be controlled, the means or methods to control the energy, and the knowledge of any potential source of stored or residual energy.

  2. Notify all employees within the immediate affected area that a lockout or tagout is going to be utilized and the reason why.

  3. If the equipment is operating, shut it down by the normal stopping procedure.

  4. Operate the switch, valve, or other energy isolating device(s) so that the equipment is isolated from its energy source(s).

  5. Lockout and/or tagout the energy isolating devices with assigned individual lock(s) or tag(s).  Lockout devices and tagout devices are to indicate the identity of the employee applying the device(s).  Following the application of lockout or tagout devices, all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy shall be relieved, disconnected, restrained, or otherwise rendered safe.

  6. Prior to starting work on machines or equipment that have been locked or tagged out, the authorized employee shall verify that isolation and  de-energization of the machine or equipment has been accomplished by pushing the start button.

  7. At this point the equipment is considered to be locked or tagged out.

  8. If lockout is the energy control method utilized, the authorized employee is to keep the key in his/her possession for the duration of the lockout period.
RESTORING EQUIPMENT TO NORMAL OPERATING STATUS

Before lockout or tagout devices are removed and energy is restored to the equipment, the following procedures shall be taken by the employee:
  1. Inspect the work area to ensure that non-essential items have been removed and ensure the machine or equipment components are operationally intact.

  2. Check the work area to ensure that all employees have been safely positioned or removed.

  3. Before lockout or tagout devices are removed and before the equipment is energized, affected employees in the immediate area shall be notified that the lockout or tagout device will be removed.
LOCKOUT OR TAGOUT DEVISE REMOVAL

Each safety lockout or tagout device may only be removed by the employee who applied the device with one exception.  Removal of a safety lockout or tagout device by any other person than who applied the device may only be done by the direction of the direct supervisor, or if he/she is not on site another supervisor, under the following procedure:
  1. The supervisor must verify that the authorized employee who applied the device is not at work.

  2. The authorized employee is to be informed that the lockout/tagout device has been removed before he/she resumes work at the facility.
PROCEDURE INVOLVING MORE THAN ONE PERSON

In the preceding steps, if more than one individual is required to lockout or tagout the same equipment, each shall place his/her own personal lockout device or tagout device on the energy isolating device(s) .  When an energy isolating device cannot accept multiple locks or tags, a multiple lockout or tagout device (hasp) is to be used.

When more than one authorized person has implemented lockout/tagout in order to assist in the servicing or maintenance of equipment, only the person who applies the first lock and the person who removed the last lock will be required to notify employees in the immediate affected work area of the application and removal of lockout/tagout devices.

TESTING OR POSITIONING OF EQUIPMENT OR COMPONENTS

In situations in which lockout or tagout devices must be temporarily removed from the energy isolating device and the equipment energized to test or position the equipment or one of its components, the authorized employee will comply with the following:
  1.  Clear the machine or equipment of tools and materials.
  2.  Remove employees from the machine or equipment area.
  3.  Remove the lockout or tagout device.
  4.  Energize and proceed with testing or positioning.
  5.  De-energize all systems and reapply the appropriate energy control device.
OUTSIDE PERSONNEL (CONTRACTORS)

Whenever outside personnel are to be engaged in activities requiring the control of hazardous energy, they must use a lockout/tagout program.  Outside personnel (contractors) are to provide a written copy of their lockout/tagout program to Environmental Health & Safety for review prior to work being done.   The PSU construction inspector, maintenance supervisor, or contract officer and the outside contractor, are to inform each other of their respective lockout or tagout procedures and coordinate work involving group interfacing.

PERIODIC INSPECTION

The supervisor of each university unit that uses lockout/tagout will perform an annual inspection of the energy control procedure in his/her unit to ensure that the procedures and the requirements of Oregon OSHA (OR-OSHA) lockout/tagout rules are being followed.  University or department safety officers may at any time inspect operating procedures.
  1. The annual inspection will be designed to correct any deviations or inadequacies observed.

  2. The supervisor will document that the annual inspections have been performed and certify the employees are competent in performing work tasks.  The documentation will identify the equipment on which the energy control procedure was being utilized, the date of the inspection, the employees included in the inspection, and the person performing the inspection.  A copy of this documentation will be provided to the University Safety Officer at Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) within one work week after inspection. Documentation using the PSU Energy Control Program Audit Sheet is acceptable (see Appendix B).

  3. Any deviations from the University lockout/tagout procedures will immediately be corrected at the time and will be reported to the University Safety Officer.
TRAINING AND COMMUNICATION

Training will be provided to ensure that the purpose and procedures of the Energy Control Program are understood by employees and that the knowledge and skill required for the safe application, usage, and removal of lockout/tagout devices are conveyed to employees.  The training will include the following:
  1. Each authorized employee will receive training by their supervisor in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.

  2. Each affected employee will be instructed by their supervisor in the purpose and use of the energy control procedure, (e.g. locks and tags).
MINIMUM TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR TAGOUT

Authorized employees will be trained in the following limitations of tags:
  1. Tags are essentially warning devices affixed to energy isolating devices, and do not provide the physical restraint on those devices that is provided by a lock.

  2. When a tag is attached, it is not to be removed except by the authorized person responsible for it, and it is never to be bypassed, ignored, or otherwise defeated.

  3. In order to be effective, tags must be legible and understandable by all employees whose work operations are or may be in the area.

  4. Tags and their means of attachment must be made of materials which will withstand the environmental conditions encountered in the workplace.

  5. Tags may evoke a false sense of security, and their meaning needs to be understood as part of the overall Energy Control Program.

  6. Tags must be securely attached to energy isolating devices so that they cannot be inadvertently or accidentally detached during use.
EMPLOYEE RETRAINING

Retraining will be conducted whenever a periodic inspection reveals, or whenever there is reason to believe, that there are deviations from or inadequacies in the employee’s knowledge or use of an energy control device.  Examples include a change in job assignment, machinery, equipment, or energy control procedures.

DOCUMENTATION OF TRAINING

The supervisor will document that employee training has been accomplished and provide EH&S a copy of the documentation within one work week.

AUTHORIZATION

EH&S will be responsible for writing University wide procedures while individual departments will be responsible for augmenting these procedures with department and equipment specific procedures.  Affected supervisors will be responsible for ensuring their employees are trained and supervising in compliance with University procedures and OR-OSHA rules.