Lockout/Tagout Program Summary

Applies to:

This program applies to employees who service or maintain machinery, equipment, or related electrical systems where there is a potential for exposure to hazardous energy sources.

Requirements

Employees are expected to use work practices, such as proper de-energization and the application of appropriate lockout devices and tags, to prevent the unexpected start-up or release of stored energy.

Work on energized hazardous energy sources, such as electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, steam, etc. is not permitted at Virginia Tech without prior approval by the supervisor, departmental representative, and Environmental Health & Safety. Information regarding energized electrical work approval is covered in the Electrical Safety Program.

Departments must supply appropriate devices for lockout/tagout and ensure that personnel are trained and authorized.

Persons applying locks and/or tags must attend Environmental Health & Safety Lockout/Tagout Authorized Person Training. Awareness level training is available for personnel in the general area where Lockout/Tagout is conducted to provide a basic understanding of the program requirements.

For work on building roofs where chemical exposure may be an issue due to fume hood exhausts at the roof level, follow these Roof Access Procedures.

Purpose

This program and the associated tools and procedures were developed to support departmental efforts to control employee exposure to hazardous energy sources and meet requirements established by regulatory and industry standards.

Application

The requirements of this program apply to the control of hazardous energy during servicing and/or maintenance conducted by university personnel without regard to the work location.

Scope

This program establishes expectations regarding the following activities performed on machinery or equipment:

• Service or maintenance where the unexpected start-up, activation, or release of hazardous energy could cause injury;
• Operations where an employee is required to remove or bypass a guard or other safety device;
• Operations where an employee is required to place any part of his or her body into an area of the machine where work is actually performed upon the material being processed, or where a similar danger zone exists during the machine operating cycle;
• Work on equipment where an energy source itself poses a hazard to the employee (e.g., electrical systems) that must be controlled for the work to be performed safely;
• Entry into confined spaces, such as vats or tanks, where the supply lines for chemicals, gases, or other materials into the space must be double blocked, bled, blanked, and locked out to prevent the introduction of these materials into the space while employees are performing work;
• Minor service activities, which take place during normal operation, are not covered by this program if they are routine, repetitive, and integral to the use of the equipment or production. Alternative safety measures may be necessary; and
• Work on cord-and-plug connected electrical equipment, for which the only energy source is electrical, is not covered by this program if the plug is under the exclusive control of the employee performing the servicing/maintenance.