Energy Control Procedures

Procedures must be developed, documented, and used for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees are engaged in the activities covered by 29 CFR §1910.147.

The procedures must outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be used for the control of hazardous energy, and how to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, the following:

• A statement of the intended use of the procedure
• Procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking, and securing machines to control hazardous energy
• Procedural steps for the placement, removal, and transfer of lockout devices or tagout devices and the responsibility for both
• Requirements for testing a machine to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices, tagout devices, and other energy control measures

Exception

An employer does not need to document the required procedure for a machine when all the following conditions exist:

1. The machine has no potential for stored or residual energy or re-accumulation of stored energy after shutdown that could endanger employees.
2. The machine has a single energy source that can be readily identified and isolated.
3. The isolation and locking out of that energy source will completely de-energize and deactivate the machine.
4. The machine is isolated from that energy source and locked out during maintenance.
5. A single lockout device will achieve a locked-out condition.
6. The lockout device is under the exclusive control of the authorized employee performing the maintenance.
7. The maintenance does not create hazards for other employees.
8. The employer, in utilizing this exception, has had no accidents involving the unexpected activation or reenergization of the machine during maintenance.

Protective Materials and Hardware

Employers must provide the locks, tags, chains, wedges, key blocks, adapter pins, self-locking fasteners, and other protective materials and hardware for isolating, securing, or blocking of machines from energy sources.

Lockout and tagout devices must be identified/labeled for use as lockout and tagout devices; must be the only devices(s) used for controlling energy; must not be used for other purposes; and must meet the following additional requirements: they must be durable, standardized, substantial, and identifiable.

• Must be durable
  • Lockout and tagout devices must be durable enough to withstand the environment to which they are exposed for the maximum period of time that exposure is expected.
  • Tagout devices must be durable enough to withstand weather conditions or wet and damp locations without deteriorating or becoming illegible.
  • Tags must not deteriorate when used in corrosive environments (for example, areas where acid and alkali chemicals are handled and stored).
• Must be standardized
  • Lockout and tagout devices used within a facility must be standardized in at least one of the following criteria: color, shape, or size. In addition, print and format must be standardized for tagout devices.
• Must be substantial
  • Lockout devices must be substantial enough that removal would require the use of excessive force or unusual techniques, such as with the use of bolt cutters or other metal cutting tools.
  • Tagout devices, including their means of attachment, must be substantial enough to prevent inadvertent or accidental removal. Tagout device attachment means must be of a non-reusable type, attachable by hand, self-locking, and non-releasable with a minimum unlocking strength of no less than 50 pounds and having the general design and basic characteristics of being at least equivalent to a one-piece, all environment-tolerant nylon cable tie.
• Must be identifiable
  • Lockout devices and tagout devices must indicate the identity of the employee applying the device(s).
  • Tagout devices must warn against hazardous conditions if the machine is energized and must include a legend such as the following: Do Not Start. Do Not Open. Do Not Close. Do Not Energize. Do Not Operate.

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