Control of Hazardous Energy Sources
Following appropriate Lock Out/Tag Out (LOTO) protocols can mitigate the hazard and protect workers. Failure to lockout, tag-out, and block-out (LOTO) machinery before working on it is a major cause of serious injuries and deaths. Workers can be electrocuted, suffer severe crushing injuries, and lose fingers, hands, and arms because machinery is inadvertently turned on while it is being cleaned, repaired, serviced, set-up, adjusted, or unjammed.
- Lock Out / Tag Out Program Template
Hazardous Energy Sources
Hazardous energy sources can include, but are not limited to:
- Electrical
- Mechanical
- Hydraulic
- Pneumatic
- Chemical
- Thermal
- Gravitational
Before Beginning Work on Machinery or Equipment
Machinery or equipment capable of movement shall be stopped and the power source de-energized or disengaged, and, if necessary, the moveable parts shall be mechanically blocked or locked out to prevent inadvertent movement, or release of stored energy during cleaning, servicing and adjusting operations.
Prime movers, equipment, or power-driven machines equipped with lockable controls or readily adaptable to lockable controls shall be locked out or positively sealed in the “off” position during repair work and setting-up operations.
Accident prevention signs or tags or both shall be placed on the controls of the power source of the machinery or equipment.
Training
Authorized employees shall be trained on hazardous energy control procedures and on the hazards related to performing activities required for cleaning, repairing, servicing, setting-up and adjusting prime movers, machinery and equipment.
Each affected employee shall be instructed in the purpose and use of the energy control procedure.
All other employees whose work operations may be in an area where energy control procedures may be utilized, shall be instructed about the prohibition relating to attempts to restart or reenergize machines or equipment which are locked out or tagged out.
Resources and References