Lockout/TagoutTimHughes–TechIOSHBusinessDevelopmentManagerMasterLockCorporationTherearetwooccasionsforgainingaccesstopotentiallyhazardousmachineryorprocessequipment.1.Unplannedaccesse.g.clearingablockage.2.Plannedaccesse.g.scheduledmaintenanceorrepairs.Contrastingcontrolmeasuresareneeded,dependinguponwhichofthesetasksisbeingundertaken.•Unplannedmaintenanceisusuallyofshortduration.–Thehazardistemporarilyimmobilised/isolated,forexamplewhileasafetygateisopen.•Plannedmaintenanceisusuallyoflongerduration.–Thehazardisimmobilised/isolateduntiltherepairworkiscompleted.Forunplannedaccessafixedcontrolsystemisneedede.g.:•Safetyswitch•LightCurtain•MechanicalInterlock•SafetyMatForplannedaccess,aLockout/Tagoutprocedureisneeded,including:•SafetyPadlock•MultiHasp•Tag•SpecialityDeviceWhatisLockout/Tagout?Lockout/Tagoutisacontrolmeasureusuallyconductedinadvanceofplannedmaintenanceorrepairactivity.ARiskAssessmentwilloftenbecarriedoutinadvanceofthiswork.Dependinguponthehazardsidentified,aPermittoWorkmaybeimplemented.WhattypeofhazardsmightnecessitatetheimplementationofLockout/Tagout?•Lockout/Tagoutsafeguardsagainsttheunexpectedreleaseofenergy.•Thisenergycanbeinthefollowingforms:–Electrical–Mechanical–Hydraulic–Pneumatic•Simplyturningoffthemachine,equipmentorprocessesisnotenough.•Youmaybeworkingoutofsiteoftheon/offswitchorisolator.•Inthiscase,anotherworkermightinadvertentlyswitchthemachinebackon.•Watchthefollowingvideocliptounderstandthesignificationofthispoint.AccidentReconstruction–clickheretostartvideoAndhere’showtoavoidthistragedyWorkSafeReconstruction–clickheretostartvideo•Lockout/Tagoutisaneffectiveandlowcostmeansofpreventinganaccidentlikethis.•Incorporatinglockout/tagoutintoyourpermittoworkcanfurtherincreasethesafetyintegrity.Ifthepotentialhazardsaresufficient,alockoutprocedureislikelytobeincorporatedwithinaPermittoWork(PtW)What’sthepermitfor?•Asthenamesuggestsapermittoworkisacontroldocumentwhichgrantspermissionforworktobecarriedout.Permissionisgrantedbyanauthorisedperson.•Itwillrecordthevarioustasksandactivitiesbeingundertaken.•Itwilllistthehazardswhichhavebeenidentifiedduringtheriskassessment.•Itwilldescribethepreventativemeasurestakentonegatetheserisks.•Itwillidentifytheindividualworkersassignedtothetask.•Anestimateofthedurationofworkwillbenoted.•Itcanlistanyspecialisttoolingneededforthework.•Mostimportantly,itwillbesignedbytheauthorisedpersonandtheperson(s)carryingoutthework.Whatarethelegalobligations?•TheHealth&SafetyatWorketcAct.,1974placesresponsibilityforHealth&Safetyonbothemployerandemployee.•Generaldutiesofemployerstotheiremployees.–Itshallbethedutyofeveryemployertoensure,sofarasisreasonablypracticable,thehealth,safetyandwelfareatworkofallhisemployees.•Duty(ofemployees)nottointerferewithormisusethingsprovidedpursuanttocertainprovisions.–Nopersonshallintentionallyorrecklesslyinterferewithormisuseanythingprovidedintheinterestsofhealth,safetyorwelfareinpursuanceofanyoftherelevantstatutoryprovisions.Whatdoesthismeaninpracticalterms,andinrelationtoLockout/Tagout?•Theemployermustensurethattheworkerissufficientlyqualifiedtocarryouthis/herduties,andprovideanysafetyequipment(e.g.PPE)toenablethemtoworksafely.•Theemployeemustusethesafetyequipmentprovided,andmustnotdamageitsuchthatitmayputatriskhimselforhis/herco-workers.TheProvision&UseofWork...
