Lock out-Tag-out for the Facilities Management Department

Policy Statement

All Adelphi University employees will be protected from injuries caused by unexpected energizing or starts up of machines or equipment, or release of stored energy during service, repair, maintenance, operation, and associated activities. This policy establishes minimum performance requirements for the control of such potentially hazardous conditions. This will be accomplished by locking out and tagging out energy isolating devices, and otherwise disabling machines or equipment to prevent unexpected energizing, start-up or release of stored energy.

Reason for Policy

The purpose of this program is to establish procedures for affixing appropriate lockout or tagout devices to energy-isolating devices, and to otherwise disable machines or equipment to prevent unexpected energization, start-up or release of stored energy in order to prevent injury to employees.

Who Is Governed by this Policy

Staff

Policy

Authorizations

The Executive Director for Facilities Management and his Supervisors can authorize the use of this program by any and all facilities workers, contractors and individuals associated with the control of hazardous energy on any Adelphi University entity.

Other Department Heads will implement the program and ensure that the personnel under their supervision are trained in accordance with the procedures established herein. This responsibility may be delegated to another person or persons within the department providing it is done so in writing and the designated person is qualified and competent. This person will authorize employees to implement the locking and tagging system procedure. Other departments affected are Public Safety, Theater Arts and the Art Department.

An employee who has been authorized by his or her Department Head or Manager will  lockout or implement a tagout system procedure on machines or equipment to perform servicing or maintenance; or on a machine which the unexpected energizing or start-up of the machine or equipment, or release of stored energy could cause injury.

Rules

Each department utilizing the Adelphi University Lock out/ Tag out program for the control of hazardous energy shall establish and document site-specific procedures for energy isolation. Specialized lockout or tagout devices shall be obtained and kept within the department for its use.

If an energy-isolating device is capable of being locked out, the authorized employee shall utilize lockout, unless the department head or their designated representative can demonstrate that utilization of a tagout system will provide full employee protection. When a tagout device is used on an energy-isolating device that is capable of being locked out, the tagout device shall be attached at the same location that the lockout device would have been attached.

Lockout devices used for the implementation of this program shall be accompanied by a standard tag.

These devices shall be used for no other purpose than lockout, and shall be substantial enough to prevent removal without the use of excessive force or unusual techniques. Tagout devices, including their means of attachment, shall be substantial enough to prevent inadvertent or accidental removal. Tagout device attachment means shall 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.

The Director of Environmental Health & Safety or his/her designated representative shall conduct periodic inspection of the lock out/ tag out program at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of 29 CFR1910.150 are being followed.

Training Procedures

Tag Out stations are located in the Boiler room and at the main Facilities Management office.

The Department Directors or their designated representatives are required to provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program are understood by employees. Through training, employees will be required to possess the knowledge and skills required for safe application, usage, and removal of energy controls. Training shall include the following:

• Each authorized employee shall receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.
• Each affected employee shall be instructed in the purpose and use of the energy control procedure.
• All other employees whose work operations are or may be in an area where energy control procedures may be utilized, shall be instructed about the procedure, and about the prohibition relating to attempts to restart or re-energize machines or equipment which are locked-out or tagged-out.
• When tagout systems are used, employees shall also be trained in the following limitations of tags:

1. Tags are essentially warning devices affixed to energy-isolating devices, and do not provide the physical restraint on those devices that is provided by lockout.
2. When a tag is attached to an energy-isolating means, it is not to be removed without authorization of the authorized person responsible for it, and it is never to be bypassed, ignored or otherwise defeated.
3. Tags must be legible and understandable by all authorized employees, affected employees, and all other employees whose work operations are or may be in the area, in order to be effective.
4. Tags and their means of attachment must be made of materials that will withstand the environmental conditions encountered in the workplace.
5. Tags may evoke a false sense of security, and their meaning needs to be understood as part of the overall energy control program.
6. Tags must be securely attached to energy- isolating devices so that they cannot be inadvertently or accidentally detached during use.

Retraining shall be provided for all authorized and affected employees whenever there is a change in their job assignments, a change in machines, equipment or process that presents a new hazard, or when there is a change in energy control procedures. Retraining shall establish employee proficiency and introduce new or revised control methods and procedures as necessary. The heads of departments or their designated representatives shall certify that employee training has been accomplished and is being kept up-to-date. The certification shall contain each employee’s name and dates of training.

Techniques

Implementation of the lockout or tagout system shall be performed only by authorized employees. Affected employees are notified by their Supervisors/Department Heads, or their designated representatives, of the application and removal of lockout or tagout devices. Notification shall be given before the controls are applied, and after they are removed from the machine or equipment.

The established procedure for the application of energy control shall cover the following elements and actions and shall be done in the following sequence:

1. Preparation for shutdown: Before an authorized or affected employee turns off a machine or piece of equipment, they shall have knowledge of the type and magnitude of the energy, the hazards of the energy to be controlled, and the method or means to control the energy.
2. Machine or equipment shutdown: An orderly shutdown must be utilized to avoid any additional or increased hazard(s) to employees as a result of equipment de-energized.
3. Machine or equipment isolation: All energy- isolating devices that are needed to control the energy to the machine or equipment shall be physically located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source(s).
4. Lockout or tagout device application: Lockout or tagout devices shall be affixed to each energy-isolating device by authorized employees. Lockout devices, where used, shall be affixed in a manner that will hold the energy in a “safe” or “off” position. Tagout devices, where used, shall be affixed in such a manner as will clearly indicate that the operation or movement of energy isolating devices from the “safe” or “off” position is prohibited. Where tagout devices are used with energy- isolating devices designed with the capability of being locked, the tag shall be fastened at the same point at which the lock would have been attached. Where a tag cannot be affixed directly to the energy-isolating device, the tag shall be located as close as safely possible to the device, in a position that will be immediately obvious to anyone attempting to operate the device.
5. Stored Energy: Following the application of lockout or tagout devices to energy-isolating devices, all potentially hazardous stored energy shall be rendered safe. If there is a possibility of re-accumulation of stored energy to a hazardous level, verification of isolation shall be continued until the servicing or maintenance is completed, or until the possibility of such accumulation no longer exists.
6. Verification of Isolation: Prior to starting work on machines or equipment that have been locked out or tagged out, the authorized employee shall verify that isolation and de- energizing the machine or equipment has been accomplished.
7. Release from Lockout or Tagout: Before lockout or tagout devices are removed and energy is restored to the machine or equipment, procedures shall be followed and actions taken by the authorized employee(s) to ensure the following:
   • The Machine or Equipment: The work area shall be inspected to ensure that non essential items have been removed and that machine or equipment components are operationally intact.
   • Employees: The work area will be checked by a supervisor to ensure that all employees have been safely positioned or removed. Before lockout or tagout devices are removed and before machines or equipment are energized, affected employees shall be notified.
8. Lockout or Tagout Device Removal: Each lockout or tagout device shall be removed from all energy isolating device by the employee who applied the device(s).
   Exception: When the authorized employee who applied the lockout or tagout device (installer) is not available to remove it, that device may be removed under the direction of the employee’s immediate supervisor. Specific training and procedures for such removal shall be provided by each department involved in lockout or tagout operations. The procedures and training shall be documented. The documentation shall demonstrate that safety equivalent to the original process of having only the installer remove the device is maintained. The specific procedure shall include at least the following elements:
   • Verification by the immediate supervisor that the employee who applied the device is not at the facility,
   • Making all reasonable efforts to contact the authorized employee to inform them that his/her lockout or tagout device has been removed, and
   • Ensuring that the authorized employee has this knowledge before they resume work at the facility.
9. Testing or positioning of machines, equipment, or components: In situations where lockout or tagout devices must be temporarily removed from the energy- isolating device and the machine or equipment energized to test or position the equipment or component thereof, the following sequence of actions shall be followed:
   • Clear the machine or equipment of tools and materials.
   • Remove employees from the machine or equipment area.
   • Remove the lockout or tagout devices.
   • Energize and proceed with testing or positioning
     De-energize all systems and reapply energy control measures to continue the servicing and/or maintenance.
10. Outside Personnel (contractors, etc.):  Whenever outside servicing personnel are to be engaged in activities covered by the scope and application of this program, the designated Adelphi University representative and the outside employer shall inform each other of their respective lockout or tagout procedures. The designated Adelphi University representative shall ensure that his/her personnel understand and comply with restrictions and prohibitions of the outside employer’s energy control procedures. If the outside employer has no documented lockout or tagout procedures, they shall ensure that their personnel understand and comply with the procedures established in this program.
11. Group Lockout or Tagout: When servicing and/or maintenance is performed by a crew or department, they shall utilize a procedure which affords the employees a level of protection equivalent to that provided by the implementation of a personal lockout or tagout device. This shall be accomplished by:
    • The application of a multi-lock accepting device by the primary authorized employee to the energy- isolating device.
    • The primary authorized employee attaching his/her lock to the multi- accepting device.
    • Each authorized employee shall affix a personal lockout or tagout device to the multi-lock accepting device when they begin work, and shall remove those devices when they stop working on the machine or equipment being serviced or maintained.
    • The primary authorized employee removing his/her lock and the multi-lock accepting device when all service or maintenance has been completed.
12. Shift or Personnel Changes: To insure the orderly transfer of lockout or tagout devices between off-going and on-coming employees and minimize exposure to hazards from unexpected energization, start-up of the machine or equipment, or release of stored energy, these procedures shall be followed:

• The on-coming personnel shall notify the off-going personnel that they are ready to begin work on the machine or equipment.
• All lockout and/or tagout devices attached to the machine or equipment by the off-going personnel shall be removed and immediately replaced with like devices by the on-coming authorized personnel.
• The primary authorized employee shall insure that all pertinent coordination between off-going and on-coming personnel has been completed before the on-coming authorized personnel begin work on the machine or equipment and that all necessary energy has been rendered safe.

Definitions

Affected Employee: When an employee whose job requires them to operate or use a machine or piece of equipment on which servicing is performed under lockout or tagout, or whose job requires them to work in an area in which such servicing or maintenance is performed.

Authorized Employee: Any employee who locks out or implements a tag out procedure on a machine or a piece of equipment so they can perform the servicing or maintenance on that machine or equipment. An authorized employee and an affected employee may be the same person when the affected employee’s duties also include performing maintenance or service on a machine or piece of equipment that must be locked, or a tagout system implemented. Energy Source: Any source of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, or other energy.

Lockout: The placement of a lockout device on an energy-isolating device, in accordance with an established procedure, ensuring that the energy isolating device and the equipment being controlled cannot be operated until the lockout device is removed.

Lockout Device: a device that utilizes a positive means, such as a lock, to hold an energy-isolating device in the safe position and prevent the energizing of a machine or piece of equipment.

Primary Authorized Employee – Facilities Management Manager: The authorized employee who has been vested with responsibility for a set number or group of employees performing service or maintenance on machines or equipment subject to lockout or tagout procedures.

Servicing and/or Maintenance: Workplace activities such as constructing, installing, setting up, adjusting, inspecting, modifying, and maintaining and/or servicing machines or equipment. These activities include lubrication, cleaning or un-jamming of machines or equipment, and making adjustments or tool changes where the employee may be exposed to the unexpected energizing or start-up of the equipment or release of hazardous energy.

Tagout: The placement of a tagout device on an energy- isolating device, in accordance with an established procedure, to indicate that the energy-isolating device and the equipment being controlled may not be operated until the tagout device is removed.

Lockout/Tagout: “Lockout/tagout” refers to specific practices and procedures to safeguard employees from the unexpected energizing or startup of machinery and equipment, or the release of hazardous energy during service or maintenance activities. This requires that:

1. an assigned person turns off and disconnects the machinery or equipment from its energy source(s) before performing service or maintenance and
2. the authorized employee either locks or tags the energy-isolating device(s) to prevent the release of hazardous energy and take steps to verify that the energy has been isolated effectively.

Lockout devices hold energy-isolation devices in a safe or “off” position. These devices prevent machines or equipment from becoming energized, because they can only be removed with a key or other unlocking mechanism, or through extraordinary means, such as bolt cutters. 

Tagout devices are prominent warning devices that an authorized employee fastens to energy-isolating devices to warn employees not to re-energize the machine or equipment while that employee services or maintains it. Tagout devices are easier to remove and, by themselves, provide employees with less protection than do lockout devices.

OSHA Standards: OSHA’s standard for The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout), Title 29 CFR Part 1910.147, spells out steps employers must take to disable machinery or equipment that will prevent the release of hazardous energy while employees perform servicing and maintenance activities. The standard outlines ways for controlling hazardous energies: electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal and other energy sources.

In addition 29 CFR 1910.333, sets forth requirements to protect employees working on electric circuits and equipment. This section requires safe work practices be used, including lockout and tagging procedures. The provisions apply when employees are exposed to electrical hazards while working on, near, or with conductors or systems that use electric energy.

The standard gives each employer the flexibility to develop an energy-control program suited to the particular workplace and types of machines and equipment being used, maintained or serviced. Generally this is done by affixing appropriate lockout or tagout devices to the energy-isolating devices, and by de-energizing machinery and equipment.

Training: Employees need to be trained minimally in:

1. aspects of the employer’s energy control program,
2. elements of the energy control program relevant to the employee’s duties or assignment, and
3. the various requirements of the OSHA standards related to lockout/tagout.

Recommendations: The standards establish requirements that employers must follow when employees are exposed to hazardous energy while servicing and maintaining equipment and machinery. Some of the most critical requirements from the standards as outlined in OSHA’s Fact Sheet are:

• Develop, implement and enforce and energy control program.
• Use lockout devices for equipment that can be locked out. Tagout devices may be used in place of lockout devices only if the tagout program provides employee protection equivalent to that provided through a lockout program.
• Ensure that new or overhauled equipment is capable of being locked out.
• Develop, implement and enforce and effective tagout program if machines or equipment are not capable of being locked out.
• Develop, document, implement and enforce energy control procedures. [See the note to 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i) for an exception to the documentation requirements.]
• Use only lockout/tagout devices authorized for the particular equipment or machinery and ensure that they are durable, standardized and substantial.
• Ensure that lockout/tagout devices identify the individual users.
• Establish a policy that permits only the employee who applied a lockout/tagout device to remove it [See 29 CFR 1910.147(e)(3) for exception.]
• Inspect energy control procedures at least annually.
• Provide effective training as mandated for all employees covered by the standard.

Comply with the additional energy control provision in OSHA standards when machines or equipment must be tested or repositioned, when outside contractors work at the site, in group lockout situations, and during shift or personnel changes.

Procedures

Lockout/Tagout Procedures

1. Is all machinery or equipment capable of movement, required to be de-energized or disengaged and locked-out during cleaning, servicing, adjusting or setting up operations, whenever required?
2. Where the power disconnecting means for equipment does not also disconnect the electrical control circuit:
   • Are the appropriate electrical enclosures identified?
   • Is means provided to assure the control circuit can also be disconnected and locked-out?
3. Is the locking-out of control circuits in lieu of locking-out main power disconnects prohibited?
4. Are all equipment control valve handles provided with a means for locking-out?
5. Does the lock-out procedure require that stored energy (mechanical, hydraulic, air, etc.) be released or blocked before equipment is locked-out for repairs?
6. Are appropriate employees provided with individually keyed personal safety locks?
7. Are employees required to keep personal control of their key(s) while they have safety locks in use?
8. Is it required that only the employee exposed to the hazard, place or remove the safety lock?
9. Is it required that employees check the safety of the lock-out by attempting a startup after making sure no one is exposed?
10. Are employees instructed to always push the control circuit stop button immediately after checking the safety of the lock-out?
11. Is there a means provided to identify any or all employees who are working on locked-out equipment by their locks or accompanying tags?
12. Are a sufficient number of accident prevention signs or tags and safety padlocks provided for any reasonably foreseeable repair emergency?
13. When machine operations, configuration or size requires the operator to leave his or her control station to install tools or perform other operations, and that part of the machine could move if accidentally activated, is such element required to be separately locked or blocked out?
14. In the event that equipment or lines cannot be shut down, locked-out and tagged, is a safe job procedure established and rigidly followed?

Forms

This policy does not have forms associated with it at this time. Upon periodic policy review this area will be evaluated to determine if additional information is needed to supplement the policy.

Related Information

This policy does not have related information at this time. Upon periodic policy review this area will be evaluated to determine if additional information is needed to supplement the policy.

Document History

• Last Reviewed Date: March 17, 2023
• Last Revised Date:  March 17, 2023
• Policy Origination Date: March 01, 2005

Who Approved This Policy

Sentwali Bakari, Vice President for Student Affairs and Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging