OSHA Lockout Tagout Requirements Explained
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has lockout/tagout requirements to prevent accidental or unexpected machine start-up or release of stored energy during servicing or maintenance activities. These requirements are outlined in OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.147.
Here are the key requirements:
Written program: Employers must establish and implement a lockout/tagout program outlining the procedures and practices to be followed during servicing and maintenance activities.
Energy control procedures: Employers must develop and document energy control procedures, which include steps for shutting down, isolating, and securing machines and equipment before performing maintenance or servicing tasks.
Authorized employees: Only authorized employees who have been trained in the energy control procedures are permitted to perform servicing or maintenance tasks that require lockout/tagout.
Lockout/tagout devices: Employers must provide lockout/tagout devices, such as padlocks and tags, to secure energy-isolating devices to prevent the release of hazardous energy.
Periodic inspections: Employers must conduct periodic inspections to ensure that energy control procedures are followed, and lockout/tagout devices are in good condition.
Training and retraining: Employers must provide training and retraining to authorized employees, affected employees, and other employees as necessary to ensure that they understand the purpose and function of the energy control procedures and the proper use of lockout/tagout devices.
Recordkeeping: Employers must maintain records of all energy control procedures, including the procedures themselves, a list of authorized employees, and records of training and retraining.
These requirements are in place to protect employees from injury or death due to unexpected energy release while performing servicing or maintenance activities.
OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.147
OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.147 is also known as the Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) standard. It is a regulation developed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to prevent accidental or unexpected machine start-up or release of stored energy during servicing or maintenance activities.
The standard outlines employers' requirements to protect their employees from hazardous energy sources. These requirements include:
Developing and implementing a written energy control program that outlines the procedures for controlling hazardous energy sources.
Identifying all sources of hazardous energy in the workplace.
Designating and training authorized employees to perform servicing or maintenance work on machines and equipment that involve hazardous energy.
Developing energy control procedures that outline the steps for shutting down, isolating, and securing machines and equipment.
Providing lockout/tagout devices to be used to secure energy-isolating devices to prevent the release of hazardous energy.
Conducting periodic inspections to ensure that energy control procedures are being followed and that lockout/tagout devices are in good condition.
Providing training and retraining to authorized employees, affected employees, and other employees as necessary to ensure that they understand the purpose and function of the energy control procedures and the proper use of lockout/tagout devices.
Maintaining records of all energy control procedures, including the procedures themselves, a list of authorized employees, and records of training and retraining.
Overall, OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.147 is designed to protect employees from the hazards of uncontrolled energy sources during servicing and maintenance activities. Employers are responsible for ensuring compliance with the standard to protect their workers from injury or death due to unexpected energy release.
