Equipment Lockout

Whenever the inadvertent or unauthorized starting of a piece of driven equipment will create a hazard for inspection or maintenance personnel, it is important to disable that equipment while work is being performed. The hazard might be strictly mechanical, as in contact with rotating machinery, or partly chemical, as in a release caused by the pressure developed by a pump or compressor. 

If its driver is a motor, the equipment is taken off line by opening a switch or breaker and locking it to prevent closure. The switch should be individually locked or tagged by each person or department involved witii the work. At a minimum, this would include the direct operator of the equipment and the inspecting or maintenance group. The first lock applied, and the last removed. 

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Process technician—inspects area and ensures good housekeeping, blinds, isolates and clears equipment, vessels, tanks and piping, immobilizes power driven equipment (lockout/tagout), determines PPE required, fills out the permit, and posts it at the job site. 

Laboratories (UL) inspects or tests more than 70,000 products each year, including firefighting equipment, lockout/tagout supplies, lighting fixtures, and flammable liquid storage containers. UL certification only pertains to the area of safety and does not involve performance testing. UL issues more than 500 standards, with many being adopted by ANSI. UL publishes directories of companies whose products meet or exceed criteria outlined in appropriate standards. 

Electrical equipment.Lockout/Tagout — Electrical Equipment... 

Electrical equipment Lockout/tagout Warning devices... 

This section smnmarizes several MSHA-recommended safe job procedures as they relate to electrical safety. Note that these descriptions are not intended to provide detailed instruction, rather, they are intended to serve as representative examples and to familiarize the reader with the most common electrical hazards and basic recommended safe job procedures for several common job functions. The first section describes basic procedures that apply to most pieces of electric equipment. The second section smnmarizes procedmes for a coal mine shuttle car operator. FinaUy, equipment lockout procedures are smnmarized. See MSHA s On-The-Job Training Modules for additional details (MSHA 1985a MSHA 1985b MSHA 1986a MSHA 1988a MSHA 1988b). 

Although the equipment lockout procedure is fairly straightforward to follow, several circumstances do require additional consideration. First, locking out only the control circuit on a piece of equipment is not sufficient. Although this practice may seem to prevent the equipment from being energized, it is an unreliable procedure. For example, a fault in the control circuit may energize the equipment. 

Electrical equipment Lockout/tagout Walls and floor openings... 

Material solidifies Monitor and control temperature in feed system or is too viscous, Heat trace and/or insulate lines and plugs lines. Potential for proper line break procedures exposure while Use personal protective equipment (PPE) correcting, proper lockout-tagout and confined space problem. entry procedures CCPS G-23 CCPS G-29 Fisher 1990... 

Specific requirements for testing a machine or equipment to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices, tagout devices, and other energy control measures ... 

The valve was operated by compressed air, and the two air hoses, one to open the valve and one to close it, were connected up the wrong way around. The two connectors should have been different in size or design so that this could not occur. In addition, they were not disconnected, and a lockout device on the valve—a mechanical stop—had been removed. It is also bad practice to carry out work on equipment isolated from hot flammable gas under pressure by a single isolation valve. The take-off branch should have been slip-plated, and double block and bleed valves should have been provided so the slip-plate could be inserted safely (Figure 1-1), [16, 17]. 

There was another similarity to the first incident. In this case the equipment also had been prepared for repair and then had to wait for a couple of days until the maintenance team was able to work on it. During this period, the air lines were reconnected, the lockout removed, and the isolation valve opened. 

The accidental or unexpected sudden starting of electrical equipment can cause severe injuiy or death. Before ANY inspections or repairs are made (even on the so-called low-voltage circuits) the current should be turned off at the switch box and the switch padlocked in the OFF position. At tlie same time, the switch or controls of the macliine or other equipment being locked out of service should be securely tagged to show which equipment or circuits are being worked on. Lockouts and tagouts should be removed only by the individual(s) who installed them. 

Turn off power to electrical equipment before tests and repairs tlien lock and tag it out so it does not turn on by accident. Follow your company s lockout/tagout procedures. 

Examples of safety features are many and differ for the different equipment in the lines. Safety interlocks ensure that equipment will not operate until certain precautions have been taken. Safety machine lockout procedures are set up for action to be taken in... 

Labels for all start-stop switches 8. Equipment designed to permit lockout ... 

Many of these lockout devices are not specifically designed for use in the chemical industry (e.g., chains, padlocks) and are available from a local hardware store or manufacturer specializing in safety equipment. Other lockout devices (for example, valve-specific lockouts or valve box-locks) are more specialized and must be purchased from safety or valve-related equipment vendors. 

A major difference between valve-specific lockout devices and the padlocked chain or cable lockouts discussed earlier is that valve-specific lockouts do not need to be secured to an anchoring device in the floor or the piping system. In addition, valve-specific lockouts eliminate potential tripping or access hazards that maybe caused by chains or cable lockouts applied to valves located near walkways or frequently maintained equipment. 

Written procedures to describe how critical equipment maintenance will be performed, quality-controlled, and safety-ensured, such as use of decontamination, hot work, line-breaking, and lockout/tagout procedures. 

Chemical release caused by inadequate equipment isolation associated with lockout/tagout activities. 

De-energizing, lockout, and red tag procedures for work on power driven equipment... 

Decontamination Vessel openings Procedures Solutions, equipment and procedures Size, obstructions and access Vessel entry, welding and lockout... 

Power available throughout, without circuit overloads local power takeoffs equipped with lockout provisions... 

Computer software was able to trigger the controlled equipment into operation despite the fact that the hardwired fail-safe lockout device had been activated. 

Preparing a confined space for example, by isolation, lockout, tag out, purging, cleaning, and ventilation, and procuring special equipments and tools if required... 

Develop and implement safe work practices —lockout —confined space entry —opening process equipment or piping —entrance control Safe work practices shall apply to employees and oontraa employees (e) Develop and implement safe work practices —lockout —confined space entry —opening process equipment or piping —entrance control Safe work practices shall apply to emptoyees and contract employees... 

The development and implementation of safety procedures for non-routine work are required by OSHA and EPA. These specifically include hot work (such as welding), lockout or tagout, line-breaking, and confined-space entry. Other examples of non-routine work for which procedures should be developed would be excavation, electrical hot work (on energized conductors), hot-tapping (on pressurized piping), and, in some instances, personal protective equipment. 

Estabhshing a turnover procedure, which documents flow isolation and electrical lockout locations and protective equipment requirements, if the equipment or piping is to remain open for more than one shift. 

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