The Lockout and Tagout Program exists to safeguard employees from an unexpected start-up of machines or equipment, or the release of hazardous energy, while they are performing servicing or maintenance.

Authorized employees must attend both Tier Two (provided by EH&S) and Tier Three (provided by supervisors) trainings. All records must be retained for at least one year.

Scope

This program applies to cleaning, repairing, servicing, setup, and maintenance activities where unexpected energization or startup of equipment, or the release of stored energy, could result in injury to personnel. Specifically, this includes:

• The removal or bypass of a guard or other safety device
• Activities that require a person to place his or her body into an area of the equipment where work is being performed on material (point of operation), or where an associated danger zone exists during a machine-operating cycle

Exceptions

• Minor tool changes and adjustments, and other minor servicing activities, which take place during normal production operations, are not covered by the Program, so long as they meet the following requirements:
  • The work is routine, repetitive, and integral to the use of the equipment or machinery for production.
  • The work is performed using alternative measures, which provide effective protection.
• Work on cord and plug-connected equipment, for which the exposure to unexpected energization or startup is controlled by unplugging the equipment from the energy source, and where the plug is under the exclusive control of the employee performing the work, is not covered by the Program.

Repetitive process machines

If repetitive process machines (i.e. machines that require power or current continuance to maintain indexing and where repair, adjustment, testing, and setup operations cannot be accomplished with the prime mover or hazardous energy source disconnected) are introduced into the workplace, supervisors must contact EH&S to ensure compliance.