WAC 296-45-17505
Lockout/tagout (hazardous control)
program. (1) The employer shall establish a program consisting
of energy control procedures, employee training, and periodic
inspections to ensure that, before any employee performs any
servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the
unexpected energizing, start up, or release of stored energy
could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment is
isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative.
(2) The employer's energy control program under this section
shall meet the following requirements:
(a) If an energy isolating device is not capable of being
locked out, the employer's program shall use a tagout system.
(b) If an energy isolating device is capable of being locked
out, the employer's program shall use lockout, unless the
employer can demonstrate that the use of a tagout system will
provide full employee protection as follows:
(i) When a tagout device is used on an energy isolating
device which is capable of being locked out, the tagout device
shall be attached at the same location that the lockout device
would have been attached, and the employer shall demonstrate that
the tagout program will provide a level of safety equivalent to
that obtained by the use of a lockout program.
(ii) In demonstrating that a level of safety is achieved in
the tagout program equivalent to the level of safety obtained by
the use of a lockout program, the employer shall demonstrate full
compliance with all tagout-related provisions of this standard
together with such additional elements as are necessary to
provide the equivalent safety available from the use of a lockout
device. Additional means to be considered as part of the
demonstration of full employee protection shall include the
implementation of additional safety measures such as the removal
of an isolating circuit element, blocking of a controlling
switch, opening of an extra disconnecting device, or the removal
of a valve handle to reduce the likelihood of inadvertent
energizing.
(3) Whenever replacement or major repair, renovation, or
modification of a machine or equipment is performed, and whenever
new machines or equipment are installed, energy isolating devices
for such machines or equipment shall be designed to accept a
lockout device.
(4) Procedures shall be developed, documented, and used for
the control of potentially hazardous energy covered by this
section.
(5) The procedure shall clearly and specifically outline the
scope, purpose, responsibility, authorization, rules, and
techniques to be applied to the control of hazardous energy, and
the measures to enforce compliance including, but not limited to,
the following:
(a) A specific statement of the intended use of this
procedure;
(b) Specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating,
blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous
energy;
(c) Specific procedural steps for the placement, removal,
and transfer of lockout devices or tagout devices and the
responsibility for them; and
(d) Specific requirements for testing a machine or equipment
to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices,
tagout devices, and other energy control measures.
(6) The employer shall conduct a periodic inspection of the
energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the
procedure and the provisions of this section are being followed.
(a) The periodic inspection shall be performed by an
authorized employee who is not using the energy control procedure
being inspected.
(b) The periodic inspection shall be designed to identify
and correct any deviations or inadequacies.
(c) If lockout is used for energy control, the periodic
inspection shall include a review, between the inspector and each
authorized employee, of that employee's responsibilities under
the energy control procedure being inspected.
(d) Where tagout is used for energy control, the periodic
inspection shall include a review, between the inspector and each
authorized and affected employee, of that employee's
responsibilities under the energy control procedure being
inspected, and the elements set forth in this section.
(e) The employer shall certify that the inspections required
by this section have been accomplished. The certification shall
identify the machine or equipment on which the energy control
procedure was being used, the date of the inspection, the
employees included in the inspection, and the person performing
the inspection.
Note:
If normal work schedule and operation records demonstrate adequate inspection activity and contain the required information,
no additional certification is required.
(7) The employer shall provide training to ensure that the
purpose and function of the energy control program are understood
by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the
safe application, usage, and removal of energy controls are
acquired by employees. The training shall include the following:
(a) Each authorized employee shall receive training in the
recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and
magnitude of energy available in the workplace, and in the
methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.
(b) Each affected employee shall be instructed in the
purpose and use of the energy control procedure.
(c) All other employees whose work operations are or may be
in an area where energy control procedures may be used shall be
instructed about the procedures and about the prohibition
relating to attempts to restart or reenergize machines or
equipment that are locked out or tagged out.
(8) When tagout systems are used, employees shall also be
trained in the following limitations of tags:
(a) Tags are essentially warning devices affixed to energy
isolating devices and do not provide the physical restraint on
those devices that is provided by a lock.
(b) 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.
(c) 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.
(d) Tags and their means of attachment must be made of
materials which will withstand the environmental conditions
encountered in the workplace.
(e) Tags may evoke a false sense of security, and their
meaning needs to be understood as part of the overall energy
control program.
(f) Tags must be securely attached to energy isolating
devices so that they cannot be inadvertently or accidentally
detached during use.