Lockout devices applying

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. 

Remove the lockout devices and re-energize the machine or equipment. The employee who applied the device will remove each lockout/tagout device from each energy-isolating device. 

If several people are needed to work on a piece of equipment, each one must apply his or her own locks. This prevents any accidental start-ups while another employee may still be working on the machinery. In this case, they will use a mrdtiple lockout device that can accommodate several locks at once. 

When more than one person is doing the servicing and maintenance, the requirement is that each authorized employee must apply his own lock to the group lockout device, or group lock box. OSHA wants each individual worker to be protected by his or her own lock. The easiest way to do this is to use a multi-lock hasp on the energy isolating device. These hasps typically hold about six locks, so each mechanic can apply a lock to the hasp. 

Lockout or tagout shall be performed only by the authorized employees who are performing the servicing or maintenance. Affected employees are to be notified by the employer or authorized employee of the application and removal of lockout devices or tagout devices. Notification must be given before the controls are applied and after they are removed from the machine, equipment, pipelines, or other sources of hazardous energy. 

Do lockout and tagout devices indicate the identity of the employee applying the devices [OSHA, 147(c)(5)(ii)(D)]... 

Is each lockout/tagout device removed by the authorized employee who applied... 

Require that each lockout/tagout device be removed by the employee who applied the device. 

When the authorized employee who applied the lockout or tagout device is not available to remove it, that device may be removed under the direction of the supervisor, provided that specific procedures and training for such removal have been developed, documented, and incorporated into the lockout/tagout program. Specific procedures include the following elements ... 

The standard does not require that each authorized employee must be issued a lock. Employers can either issue lockout/tagout devices to each authorized employee, or maintain a supply and assign or distribute them as needed. This does not mean that all the locks can be opened with the same key. The employee who applies a lock must have the assurance that he s the only person who is able to remove it. If an employer implements a system where employees may not always use the same lock, procedures must be in place to control who has the keys to those locks. As a suggestion, a supervisor could keep the keys to shared locks and check-out/check-in the keys when authorized employees use them. 

Each lockout or tagout device shall be removed from each energy-isolating device by the employee who applied the device. There may be an exception to this rule when the authorized employee, who applied the lockout our... 

Is each lockout/tagout device removed by the authorized employee who applied it [29 CFR 1910.147 (e)(2)(ii)]... 

Apply the lockout or tagout devices to the energy-isolating devices. 

Tags should be used to identify locations where equipment has been altered for lockout, including valves, flanges, skillets, spectacle blinds, switches, and blocking devices. The tag should identify the person who applied it, the reason the tag was applied, and the date the tag was applied. 

Lockout Apply the lockout, tag, and any other device to achieve zero energy. 

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