SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL

PURPOSE:

To establish policy and procedures for Lock Out/Tag Out of electrical power sources and pneumatic and hydraulic systems for securing machinery and equipment during periods fo repair, servicing and/or alterations. This includes disconnecting or de-energizing electrical and/or releasing pressure sources.

LEGAL BASIS:

California Code of Regulations, Title 8 Lock Out/Tag Out
29 Federal Code of Regulations 1910. Lock Out/Tag Out

DOCUMENTS:

Employee Safety Training Sign-In Sheet
Employee assignment of lock

POLICY

1. The Occupational Safety and Health Division (OSH) of the Personnel Department shall develop and administer an effective Lock Out/Tag Out Training Program.
   
   
   
2. The OSH Division will assist County departments to identify which employees require lock out/tag out training by conducting work site audits/evaluations.
   
   
3. The OSH Division will coordinate Lock Out/Tag Out training classes for all employees and maintain all related documentation.
   
   
4. County departmental safety liaisons will be responsible for ensuring employees requiring Lock Out/Tag Out training attend a Lock Out/Tag Out class.
   

DEFINITIONS:

TAGS: For the purpose of this procedure, tags are cards with strings to
be attached to a piece of equipment being held out of service. A tag is used to identify a piece of equipment that, if activated, could cause injury or damage.

LOCKS: A lock is a personal padlock and key used to physically prevent
the operation of a control switch, valve, gate, or other equipment while being worked on.

LOCKOUT DEVICES: Lockout devices are mechanical devices that can be held closed by
attaching a lock through a number of a lockout holes. A lockout device enables more than one person to individually lock out a switch, valve, gate, or other piece of equipment.

PROCEDURE 

This procedure includes all employees whose duties require them to service, repair, adjust, lubricate or perform work on power driven equipment. The procedure provides a uniform method for locking out, blocking out and tag ging out machinery or equipment that is being worked on or is otherwise unsafe and could pose a hazard to personnel if activated.

The requirements of this policy shall apply to circuit breakers, switches or other power source controls; pneumatic or hydraulic valves controlling the operation of equipment and valves or gates controlling the flow of liquids and/or gases. 

1. There are six procedures that must be followed during all lock out/tag out operations; they are:
   
   
   1. Turn off equipment/disconnect energy source.
      
   2. Lockout/blockout energy sources.
      
   3. Tagout at disconnect point.
      
   4. Release residual energy.
      
   5. Test equipment to make sure it will not run (attempt to start).
      
   6. Restore energy safely (remove tag, lock, hasp, etc.).
      

2. It shall be the responsibility of all supervisors of employees performing such operations to:
   
   
   • Instruct their employees as to the content of this policy.
     
     
   • Periodically follow up to assure compliance with this procedure.
     

3. The elements of the lock out procedure and danger tag are:
   
   
   1. All affected employees should be notified that a lockout is required.
      
      
   2. Only the employee who is exposed should be able to remove his or her lock and allow all power to be reapplied to a switch, valve, etc.
      
      
   3. Employees authorized to perform lockout must be certain which switch, valve or other energy-isolating device applies to the equipment being locked out.
      
      
   4. Disconnect all power at its entry point by turning off the safety-disconnect switch. Operate the switch, valve or other energy-isolating device so that the energy source (electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, or hydraulic) is disconnected or isolated from the equipment. Stored energy, such as that from capacitors, hydraulic, air, gas, steam, water pressure, etc., must be dissipated. Particular care must be exercised to bleed off pressure, flush, back-flush, or blank lines prior to locking the valve in the required position on lines that contain hazardous chemicals.
      
      
   5. The master switch/valve, etc., should be locked out in the "OFF" position, using the safety lock, and a "DANGER" tag should be attached to the switch/valve, etc.
      Where it is IMPOSSIBLE to lock out the power source, an electrician or appropriate maintenance person must remove the fuses or positively insure that the power is dead. A "DANGER" tag is to be placed by the responsible person at the point where the circuit was de-energized through one common starter-circuit, breaker, etc., the individual control switch for the equip ment/process to be worked on may be locked out if it is impractical to lock out the main circuit breaker. Every effort should be made to work on de-en ergized equipment, such as, working on the equipment when it is most practi cal to lock out the main circuit breaker.
      
      
   6. The person performing the work should place his or her own lock and/ordanger tag on the control, even though other locks and tags may be on thecontrol. Sign, date and give
      
      the reason for the lock out on the tag. If one lock is removed, the others are to remain in place. Each employee will apply his or her own lock and tag. 
      
      
   7. After locking out a piece of equipment, the employee performing the workshould try to operate the equipment by activating the control device, footswitch, hand valve, etc., to insure that the power is off.
      
      
   8. Only the person who applied the lock and/or danger tag can remove it. If alock and/or tag had been forgotten by an employee who has gone home, it maybe removed by the ranking shift supervisor if removal is imperative for operation. Attempts should be made to first contact the person who placed the lock and/or tag on the equipment. Before the lock and/or tag is re moved, a thorough inspection of the equipment or process should be made with the supervisor who is responsible for the job.
      
      
   9. The employee that removes the last lock and/or tag should advise the supervisor that the work is complete.
      
      
   10. When servicing portable equipment, the lockout/tagout procedure can be addressed by unplugging the individual equipment and pressing the "off" button to insure it is de-energized. Prudent care should be taken to "bleed" hydraulic or pneumatic energy sources for stored energy.
       

4. LOCKS
   
   
   1. All padlocks issued to an individual should be commonly keyed, but it is imperative that no two persons be issued padlock sets operated by the same key. Master keys should be retained by designated supervisors. It should be clearly defined under what circumstances the use of a master key is warranted to minimize potential exposure to other employees.
      
      
   2. Identification of the employee to whom the lock belongs should be stamped on the lock.
      

5. DANGER TAGS
   
   
   1. Danger tags should be red in color and must prominently state that the status of the equipment to which the tag is affixed must not be altered.
      
      
   2. Space should be provided for the name of the person authorized to remove the tag and for the name of the person on whose behalf the tag has been placed.
      
      
   3. Provision should be made for identifying the equipment that has been cleared.
      

6. The time and date the tag was placed must be shown.
   
   
7. A space should be provided to indicate the nature of the work to be performed and for additional comments.