4. Requirements
4.1 Authorized Persons
Authorized persons must have a working knowledge of equipment and/or systems to which they are assigned work. Each authorized person must also be current in their training requirement as defined in the Training and Communication section of this document. Authorized persons who are not familiar with specific equipment or systems shall place their locks and tags on equipment with a knowledgeable person from their own shop or trade.
4.2 Acquiring Lockout and Tagout Devices
Authorized employees may obtain locks and devices from the Facilities Management Warehouse. The Warehouse stocks common lockout devices. If devices are needed that are not available at the Warehouse, employees shall contact their supervisor to obtain the proper lockout device before starting work.
4.3 Locks and Keys
Locks with keys shall be used for lockout. Combination locks shall not be used on university machines or equipment for lockout. Each lock used for lockout shall have one key that is kept by the authorized employee assigned to the lock.
4.4 Lockout and Tagout Devices
The following requirements apply to all lockout and tagout devices:
- Lockout devices and tagout devices shall be singularly identified.
- Lockout and tagout devices shall be the only devices(s) used for controlling energy and shall not be used for other purposes.
- Lockout and tagout devices shall be durable.
- Lockout and tagout devices shall be capable of withstanding the environment to which they are exposed for the maximum period of time that exposure is expected.
- Tagout devices shall be constructed and printed so that exposure to weather conditions or wet and damp locations will not cause the tag to deteriorate or the message on the tag to become illegible.
- Tags shall not deteriorate when used in corrosive environments such as areas where acid and alkali chemicals are handled and stored.
- Lockout and tagout devices shall be standardized within the university to meet regulatory requirements and contain the following criteria:
- - Color
- - Shape
- -Size -Print and format (applies to tagout devices.)
- Lockout devices shall be substantial enough to prevent removal without the use of excessive force or unusual techniques, such as with the use of bolt cutters or other metal cutting tools.
- Lockout devices and tagout devices shall indicate the identity of the employee applying the device(s).
- Tagout devices, including their means of attachment, shall be substantial enough to prevent inadvertent or accidental removal.
- Tagout devices shall warn against hazardous conditions if the machine or equipment is energized and shall include a legend as follows: “Do Not Operate.”
4.5 Lockout/Tagout Device Application and Removal
The primary tool for providing employee protection is the energy isolating device. This is the mechanism that prevents the transmission or release of energy and where the lock(s) or tag(s) are attached. There are two types of energy-isolating devices: those capable of being locked and those that are not. The device guards against the accidental startup or unexpected energizing of machines or equipment during servicing or maintenance.
This program has been implemented to provide full protection to all personnel working on machines and equipment. The authorized employees are required to apply LOTO devices to energy-isolating equipment to ensure their full protection while engaged in servicing and/or maintenance activities.
Removal of lockout/tagout devices and/or tags shall be accomplished using procedures detailed in section 4.5.8 and 4.5.8.1 of this document, and in Section 5, Group Lockout/Tagout Procedures.
4.5.1 Work Plans for Multiple Departments Performing Lockout/Tagout
When lockout requires more than one shop, trade, authorized college technician or other authorized university employee applying locks, a pre-job meeting shall be held to ensure all personnel understand:
- The specific equipment to be locked and tagged
- The location of each lockout/tagout location
- Each type of energy that requires isolation
- How to properly verify that each hazardous energy source has been de-energized
- The LOTO procedure and determine if it is accurate and consistent with the isolation/verification steps required in the field.
The meeting is documented using the LOTO procedure form (Attachment A), if required.
4.5.2 Lockable Energy-Isolating Equipment
If the energy-isolating equipment is lockable, the authorized employee shall use university-approved locks, lockout devices and tags to secure the machine or equipment in a "safe" or "off" position while involved in servicing or maintenance functions. All employees servicing machines and equipment shall lock the equipment in a "safe" position and shall not rely on another employee's locks. Each authorized employee shall verify that all hazardous energy has been eliminated or controlled before working on equipment.
4.5.3 Non-Lockable (Tag-Only) Energy Isolating Equipment
If the energy-isolating equipment is not lockable, the authorized employee(s) shall fasten a university-approved tag at the same point a lock would have been applied or as close as safely possible to that point. The authorized employee(s) shall then implement any available additional safety measure such as removing or isolating circuit switches; blocking controlling switches blinding, blocking, or bleeding piping; or removing valve handles. All employees servicing machines and equipment shall tag the equipment in a "safe" position and shall not work under another employee's tags. Each authorized employee shall verify that all
hazardous energy has been eliminated or controlled and the LOTO procedure documents this circumstance before working on the equipment.
4.5.4 Equipment With Plugs (Cord and cap)
Lockout devices are not required for work on cord and plug connected electric equipment for which exposure to the hazards of unexpected energizing or startup of the equipment is controlled by unplugging of the equipment from the energy source and by the plug being under the exclusive control of the employee performing the servicing or maintenance.
Tagout devices are required to be used on cords with plugs during servicing and maintenance operations. Each authorized employee shall ensure that plug-type equipment cannot be inadvertently plugged into an electrical source during servicing or maintenance.
Lockout devices for plugs are available from the Warehouse, if an authorized employee chooses to use them.
4.5.5 Lockout andTagout Device Identification and Attachment
Whenever a lockout and/or tagout device is used, the tag must be completed so that the following information is readily identifiable:
- Authorized employee's first initial and last name
- Authorized employee's employee number.
- Department and/or college name
- Brief description of work to be performed The tagout device shall be attached with a non-reusable, self-locking, and non-
releasable nylon cable-tie capable of withstanding a minimum unlocking strength of 50 pounds. A tag shall not be attached to the hasp of the lock in lieu of using a non-releasable nylon cable-tie capable of withstanding a minimum unlocking strength of 50 pounds. Specific tagout requirements may be found in individual written LOTO procedures.
4.5.6 Hazardous Energy Control Procedures
The hazardous energy control procedure (aka LOTO Procedure) contains information that the authorized employee must know to safely control the hazardous energy during servicing or maintenance.
Written LOTO Procedures are available from Facilities Management (FM). The detailed information necessary to safely de-energize, verify and return to service each piece of equipment is identified in the procedures maintained by FM, including the preparation for shutdown and required notifications. Developing and Verifying LOTO Procedures, Attachment A, should be referenced when any questions arise related to any part of the LOTO procedure.
No isolation shall be initiated or work performed unless a written LOTO procedure has been developed for all pieces of equipment related to a specific job and/or project.
The FM Engineering Shop is responsible for LOTO procedure development for process-related equipment within Central Plant and not exclusively electrical service related. The FM Electric Shop is responsible for developing non-process-related LOTO procedures. Approved Authorized employees (Qualified electrical workers – see definitions in Section 3). Colleges, other academic units and auxiliaries are responsible for developing LOTO procedures for required equipment and processes in their respective areas.
The written LOTO procedures (Appendix B) shall contain the following information:
- Preparer(s) and Employee number(s)
- Department name(s) and number(s)
- Date
- Work Order Number
- Project or Construction Project Name/Number (Circle)
- Equipment Identification Number
- Equipment Description
- Required Personnel
- Required Equipment (tags and locks)
- Types of Hazardous Energy (List all types)
- Notifications required before Isolation and after restoration
- Isolation/Verification/Restoration sequence (same table on form)
- Signoffs
As part of the field verification for each LOTO Procedure, any revisions must be documented in the field by an authorized employee, on the specific procedure and issued to his/her supervisor at the completion of the job. The supervisor is responsible for ensuring any revised LOTO procedure is issued to CSULB Facilities Management for completion.
4.5.7 Notification and Job/Worksite Safety
Before any lockout/tagout device is removed from energy isolating equipment, affected employees shall be notified and the work area inspected to ensure all other employees, tools, and equipment have been moved to a safe location. Additionally, all safety devices and guards have been installed.
4.5.8 Lockout/Tagout Device Removal
The employee who applied the lock and tag device(s) shall be the only person authorized to remove the lockout/tagout device(s) from energy-isolating equipment.
When the employee is not available to remove his or her lockout/tagout device(s), the following procedure shall be followed if the lockout/ tagout devices must be removed:
- The employee's supervisor shall make all reasonable efforts to contact the employee who applied the lockout/tagout devices and determine whether the employee is on site.
- After verification by the employee's supervisor that the employee who applied the lockout/tagout device(s) is not available, the employee's Supervisor or Lead may remove the lockout/tagout device(s).
- The authorized employee's Supervisor or Lead shall complete a Lockout/Tagout Device Removal Notification form (Attachment C) and ensure that the authorized employee is notified that his or her lockout/tagout device(s) were removed before the employee resumes field work.
4.5.8.1 Device/Tag Removal Standby and Emergency Situations
If an authorized employee must remove a lock and tag to avoid injury or death, environmental impact, or property damage, he or she may do so as follows:
- Obtain verbal authorization from the same shop or trade supervisor.
- The most senior department, college, or administrative supervisor shall confirm the authorization and document the authorization in the daily log.
- The most senior department, college, or administrative supervisor shall complete the Lockout/Tagout Device Removal Notification form and ensure that the authorized employee is notified that his or her lockout/tagout device(s) was removed before the employee resumes field work
4.6 Machine and Equipment Testing
In situations where testing and/or repositioning of machinery or equipment is required to accomplish servicing or maintenance objectives, authorized and affected employees shall follow all procedures set forth in this document for removal and application of all lockout/tagout devices.
4.7 Modified and New Equipment
Whenever replacement, major repair, renovation, or modification of a machine or equipment is performed, and whenever new machines or equipment is installed, energy isolating devices for such machines or equipment shall be designed to accept a lockout device.
V. 1.1 12/22/2008