De-Energizing Equipment

Safe procedures for de-energizing circuits and equipment must be determined before circuits or equipment are de-energized.

• The circuits and equipment to be worked on must be disconnected from all electric energy sources.
• Control circuit devices, such as push buttons, selector switches, and interlocks, may not be used as the sole means for de-energizing circuits or equipment.
• Interlocks for electric equipment may not be used as a substitute for lockout and tagging procedures.
• Stored electric energy which might endanger personnel must be released.
• Capacitors must be discharged and high capacitance elements must be short-circuited and grounded, if the stored electric energy might endanger personnel.
  • If the capacitors or associated equipment are handled in meeting this requirement, they must be treated as energized.
• Stored non-electrical energy in devices that could reenergize electric circuit parts must be blocked or relieved to the extent that the circuit parts could not be accidentally energized by the device.

To learn more about Construction Lockout/Tagout visit our Construction Lockout/Tagout Online Training web page.