Lockout devices grouping

Each authorized employee shall affix a personal lockout or tagout device to the group lockout device, group lockbox, or comparable mechanism when the employee begins work and shall remove those devices when he or she stops working on the machine or equipment being serviced or maintained. 

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. 

When servicing or maintenance is performed by a crew, department, or other group, they shall use a procedure that affords the employees a level of protection equivalent to that provided by the implementation of a personal lockout or tagout device. Group lockout or tagout devices are to be used according to the following primary requirements ... 

Primary responsibility is vested in an authorized employee for a set number of employees working under the protection of a group lockout or tagout device (such as an operations lock). 

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