[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Middle 8-17-1995 as Ord. No. 937-95. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: Copies of forms pertaining
to lockout and tagout procedures may be found at the end of this chapter.
This program is instituted to protect all persons
while servicing or maintaining machines, equipment, valves, pipes
and wires where the unexpected energization, start up, or release
of energy could cause injury to persons or property; and to establish
minimum performance requirements for the control of hazardous energy.
The program has been designed to meet the standards of N.J.A.C. 12:100
Safety And Health Standards For Public Employees, Subchapter 11 Control
Of Hazardous Energy Sources.
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The purpose of this program is to prevent injuries
to employees and other persons from the unexpected energization, start-up
or release of stored energy from machines, equipment, or processes
when such persons are engaged in the activities listed in the paragraph
above.
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A.
The procedures will be followed in sequence:
(1)
The identified machines or equipment shall be turned
off or shut down by authorized employees.
(2)
All energy isolating devices such as switches, slide
gates, live valves, blocks, shall be physically located and operated
in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from energy
source(s).
(3)
Lockout and tagout device application. Appropriate and effective lockout and tagout devices shall be affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees, and shall prevent or inhibit reactivation of energy isolation devices and shall be used as follows:
(a)
Lockout devices shall be affixed in a manner that will hold the energy isolating devices in a "safe" or "off" position;
(b)
Tagout devices 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;
and
(c)
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.
(4)
Stored energy. Following the application of lockout
and tagout devices to energy isolating devices, all potentially hazardous,
stored or residual energy shall be relieved, disconnected, restrained,
and/or otherwise rendered safe. If there is a possibility of reaccumulation
of stored energy to a hazardous level, verification of isolation shall
be continued until the activity is completed, or until the possibility
of such accumulation no longer exists.
(5)
Verification of isolation. Prior to starting work on equipment or processes that have been locked out and tagged out, an authorized employee shall take the steps necessary to verify that isolation and de-energization of the machine or equipment has been accomplished. The steps shall ensure that the lockout and tagout devices are so positioned or located as to isolate and de-energize the equipment or process effectively in accordance with Subsection A(2) and (3) above and that stored energy has been rendered safe in accordance with Subsection A(4) above.
A.
Before lockout and tagout devices are removed and
energy is restored to the machine or equipment, procedures shall be
followed and actions shall be taken by an authorized employee to ensure
the following:
(1)
The work area shall be inspected for removal of nonessential
items and to ensure the components are operationally intact and that
all employees have been safely positioned or removed; and
(2)
Lockout and tagout devices shall be removed from each energy isolating device by the employee who applied the device, with the exception that devices may be removed under the direction of an authorized employee under the following conditions, and only where the authorized employees follow specific procedures which have been developed for those conditions:
A.
Training will be provided to ensure that the purpose
and function of the energy control procedures are understood by employees
and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application
and removal of energy controls are available as needed. The training
shall include the following:
(1)
Authorized employees shall receive training in the
recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources and in the use
of adequate methods and means for energy isolation and control;
(2)
Affected employees shall be instructed in the purpose
and use of the energy control procedure; and
(3)
All other employees whose work operations are or may
be affected by the energy control procedure shall be instructed about
the procedure and how it affects their work operations.
B.
Periodic retraining shall be provided for all authorized
and affected employees whenever a periodic inspection pursuant to
N.J.A.C. 12:100-11.6 reveals, or whenever the employer has reason
to believe that there are deviations from or inadequacies in the energy
control procedure. The retraining shall reestablish employee proficiency
and introduce new or revised control methods and procedures, as necessary.
A.
Periodic inspections shall be conducted at least annually
to ensure that the energy control procedures are being implemented.
The inspections shall be:
B.
A record of the inspections shall be maintained. Included
in the record will be a list of all equipment required to be locked
out and tagged out, the date of the inspection and the name of the
person performing the inspection.
A.
In situations where the energy isolating devices(s)
is locked and tagged, and there is a need to test or position the
machine or equipment, the following sequence of action shall be implemented:
(1)
Clear the machine or equipment of tools and materials
and clear employees from the machine or equipment area in accordance
with N.J.A.C. 12:100-11.11(a)1;
(2)
Clear the control of locks and tags with appropriate
procedures in accordance with N.J.A.C. 12:100-11.11(a)2;
(3)
Energize and proceed with testing or positioning;
and
(4)
De-energize all systems and reapply energy control
measures to continue the work.
B.
Whenever outside servicing personnel are to be engaged
in activities covered by the scope and application of this subchapter,
the plant or facility employer shall inform them of the lockout/tagout
procedures used by the facility.
(1)
The plant or facility employer shall assure that the
lockout/tagout procedures used by outside servicing personnel are
compatible with existing in-plant procedures.
C.
When lockout and tagout devices are used by a crew,
craft, department, or other group, the affected employees shall be
afforded a level of protection equivalent to that provided by personal
lockout and tagout devices.
(1)
Group lockout and tagout devices shall be used in
accordance with the procedures required by N.J.A.C. 12:100-11.11(a)1,
including, but not necessarily limited to, the following specific
requirements:
(a)
Primary responsibility shall be vested in an
authorized employee for a set number of employees working under the
protection of a particular group lockout and tagout devices;
(b)
Provision for the authorized employee to ascertain
the exposure status of individual group members with regard to the
lockout and tagout of the equipment or process; and
(c)
When more than one crew, craft, department,
etc., is involved, the responsibility of the overall job-associated
lockout/tagout control shall be assigned to an authorized employee
designated to coordinate affected work forces and ensure continuity
of protection.
D.
Specific procedures shall be implemented during shift
or personnel changes to ensure the continuity of lockout and tagout
protection in accordance with N.J.A.C. 12:100-11.11(a)1. These procedures
shall be developed as follows:
(1)
For the orderly transfer of lockout and tagout devices
between off-going and oncoming employees which will eliminate exposure
to hazards from the unexpected energization, startup, or the release
of stored energy of the equipment or process; and
(2)
To ensure that the equipment or process is being maintained
in a safe condition so as to permit continued work by employees following
the transfer of control over lockout and tagout devices.
