DRAFT
SAMPLE WRITTEN
Electrical Standard
For Compliance With
Federal Code of Regulations General Rules
and Regulations to meet 29 CFR 1910 and
1926 OSHA Standards
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This material was compiled by the staff of the South Dakota OSHA On-Site Consultation
Program.
NOTE: this sample plan is provided only as a guide to assist in complying with Federal
OSHA's General Rules and Regulations. It is not intended to supersede the
requirements detailed in the guidelines. Employers should review the standard for
particular requirements which are applicable to their specific situation. Employers will
need to add information relevant to their particular facility and industry, and types of
machine(s) and/or system(s), in order to develop an effective program. Employers
should note that certain programs are expected to be reviewed at least on an annual
basis and updated when necessary.
This material and Safety and Health Consultation Services are provided free of charge
to owners, proprietors, and managers of small businesses, by the South Dakota On-Site
Consultation Program, Engineering Extension, South Dakota State University, a
program funded largely by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),
an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor.
The information contained in this document is not considered a substitute for any
provision of the standard.
UPDATED: February 2014
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I.
What the OSHA Standard Covers
29 CFR 1910.147 (c)(7) Training and Communication
A. The employer will 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
required by employees. The training shall include the following:
1. Each authorized employee shall receive training in the recognition of
applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the
energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary
for energy control procedures.
2. Each affected employee shall be instructed in the purpose and use of the
energy control procedures.
3. All other employees whose work operations are or may be in an area
where energy control procedures may be utilized, shall be instructed about
the procedure, and about the prohibition relating to attempts to restart or
reenergize machines to equipment which are locked out or tagged out.
B. When tagout systems are used, employees shall also be trained in the
following limitations of tags:
1. Tags are essentially warning devices affixed to energy isolating devices,
and do not provide the physical restraint those devices that are provided
by a lock.
2. When a tag is attached to an energy isolating means, it is nor to be
removed without authorization of the authorized person responsible for it,
and it is never to be bypassed, ignored, or otherwise defeated.
3. 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.
4. Tags and their means of attachment must be made of materials, which will
withstand the environmental conditions encountered in the workplace.
5. Tags may evoke a false sense of security, and their meaning needs to be
understood as part of the overall energy detached during the use.
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C. Employee Training
1. Retraining shall be provided for all authorized and affected employees
whenever there is a change in their job assignments, a change in
machines, equipment or processes that present a new hazard, or when
there is a change in the energy control procedures.
2. Additional retraining shall also be conducted whenever a periodic
inspection under paragraph (c)(6) of this section reveals, or whenever the
employer has reason to believe, that there are deviations from or
inadequacies in the employee’s knowledge or use of the energy control
procedures.
3. The retraining shall reestablish employee proficiency and introduce new or
revised control methods and procedures, as necessary.
D. The employer shall certify that employee training has been accomplished and
is being kept up to date. The certification shall contain each employee’s
name and dates of training.
II.
Brief Overview of Required Training
OSHA requires that all authorized employees be trained in:
a. There are changes in equipment, job assignment, or procedures.
b. Hazardous energy sources in use at this facility.
c. How to perform the lockout/tagout procedure.
OSHA requires that all affected employees must be trained in the purpose and
use of lockout/tagout.
OSHA requires that all other employees must be instructed on the purpose of the
plan, but not in the actual use.
OSHA requires that retraining be done when:
a. There are changes in equipment, job assignment, or procedures.
b. An audit shows deficiencies with procedures.
c. The employer feels the procedures should be reviewed.
III.
Briefly What the Standard Covers
Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) 29 CFR 1910.147 covers
servicing and maintenance of equipment where unexpected energization or startup of the equipment could harm employees.
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How will this apply in your facility to include?
 Repair/replacement work
 Renovation work
 Modifications or other adjustments to power equipment
Now list the areas where lockout/tagout is required at this facility.


________________________________________
________________________________________
In general, the OSHA standard requires that all power sources that can be locked
out, must be locked for servicing or maintenance.
Just a reminder, that the use of guards or interlock devices cannot be used as a
substitute for locks during major servicing.
Now take a few moments to look at what areas of the workplace need to have
lockouts or tags used. Use the floor plans or drawings to show specific
equipment and area.
The standard requires that the employees:




Develop a written energy control program that clearly explains all
procedures for lockout/tagout.
Provide training to those workers affected by these procedures.
Identify and differentiate between authorized and affected employees.
Establish specific procedures for larger systems or machines for
lockout/tagout steps to be followed by the authorized person(s).
Authorized Employees - those who physically lock or tag out equipment for
servicing/maintenance.
Note: These individuals are not necessarily the people who normally operate the
equipment.
List the employees or job descriptions that are authorized:
 ____________________________________
 ____________________________________
Affected Employees:
 Are those whose job requires them to operate equipment subject to
lockout/tagout.
 Those who work in areas where lockout/tagout is used.
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List the individuals who are considered affected by employees:
 ____________________________________
 ____________________________________
Example: In listing individuals, use the example of the plant owner or supervisor
from another department who happens to be touring the plant with a client.
IV.
Review of Company Specific Items
Now you may want to use a video or audio-visuals to show the key points and
then discuss items that are handled in a specific manner at your facility.
You may want to use certain parts of the written company policy to show
employees specifics, such as specific procedures on larger equipment or
systems.
Discuss the specific types of energy that may be found in your facility:








Electrical
Mechanical
Pneumatic
Fluid and Gases
Hydraulic
Thermal
Water under pressure
Gravity
It may work to have the participants list the energy sources that are found in your
facility:
 __________________________________
 __________________________________
 __________________________________
Review and emphasize the kinds of problems associated with the accidental
release of energy. The video or audio/visual may be used.



Accidental start-ups
Electric shock
Disabling injuries and death
You may want to remind the participants that these accidents are usually the
result of someone taking a short cut when servicing a piece of machinery, or
occur when a worker doesn’t understand the equipment or job to be done.
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Have the participants think of areas in your facility where these types of
accidents could happen, or have happened.



__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
OSHA believes that failure to control hazardous energy sources results in:



10% of serious industrial accidents
28,000 lost work days/year
Loss of about 120 lives/year
Note: It can be very difficult if you can obtain statistics from actual
accidents/injuries that occurred as a result of accidental release of energy at your
facility.
V.
The Lockout/Tagout Procedure
A lockout/tagout program covers the following:
 How to perform a shutdown
 How to isolate equipment
 How to apply and remove lockout devices, and
 How to safely release stored energy to assure that a zero energy state
exists
Discuss and demonstrate: How to perform a shutdown and isolate equipment.
a. Notify all affected employees that you’re about to start a lockout
procedure.
b. Locate all energy sources that power the piece of equipment you’ll be
servicing. Always look for hidden energy sources.
Note: Some machines have more than one source of power, so you must make
sure you know the machine and all power sources involved.
Discuss and show pieces of equipment in your facility that have more than one
power source.
Discuss and Demonstrate: Applying and Removing Lockout Devices.
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Note: Every power source has its own procedure for lockout. This may be pulling
a plug, opening a disconnect switch, removing a fuse, closing a valve, bleeding
the line, or placing a block in the equipment.
a. Shut down the machine by following the normal method for shutdown.
b. Turn off the energy at the main power source.
c. Turn the machine switch back on, confirm that the power source has been
deactivated.
d. Attempt to restart the machine to guarantee that the power is shut off, then
return the switch to the off position.
e. Using your own lock, lock out all energy sources involved.
f. With your lock in place, test the disconnect to make sure it can’t be turned
on. Make absolutely sure the power can’t be supplies unless you know
about it.
g. If several people are needed to work on a piece of equipment, each one
must apply their own lock. This prevents any accidental star-ups while
another employee may still be working on the machinery. In this case,
you’ll use a multiple lockout device that can accommodate several locks at
once. Discuss and show a sample of the multiple lockout procedure.
h. When all energy sources are locked, inform others of the lockout situation.
One way to do this is by applying a tag to the power source.
Discuss and show tags used at your facility. Make a listing of all information
required on the tag.
 Name
 Date
 Reason for the lockout/tagout or machine number
Note: Never use another employee’s lock and never lend yours. This protects
you and your fellow workers.
Discuss and Demonstrate an example of Safe Release of Stored Energy.
Equipment must be at a “zero energy state” before servicing or maintenance
work can begin.
a. Drain all valves, bleed off air from a system, eliminate stored hydraulic
pressure, or use any method to release energy that is detailed in your
company procedure.
b. Test machine to assure that all energy was disconnected or released.
c. After servicing is finished:
1. Remove all tools from the area.
2. Replace all machine guards.
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d. Remove your tag, lock, chain, block, or valve control.
present for the multiple lock method.
e. Reconnect all sources of energy.
f. Restart the equipment.
VI.
What may be
Audits and Other Concerns of Lockout/Tagout
The OSHA standard call for periodic inspections or audits on the existing
lockout/tagout procedure, training, and implementation.
All audits must be dome by an authorized employee who does nor use the
energy control procedure being inspected.
Audits must be done at least annually and should include:
a. Do employees understand the purpose of lockout/tagout?
b. Are proper locks and tags being used?
c. Are established procedures being followed?
Each audit must be documented.
Show and discuss the company audit sheet.
Other concerns:
 Working with outside contractors. Outside contractor must be informed of
your lockout/tagout procedure. You must understand and comply with the
contractor’s lockout/tagout procedures unless your program is stronger.
 Shift and personnel changes. In general, if a piece of equipment is locked out
at shift change, the person on the next shift must apply has lock before the
employee who is leaving can remove his/her lockout/tagout tool.
 Power source that cannot be locked out. In very rare cased, a power source
cannot be physically locked out. Discuss this situation with your supervisor,
to find out if tagout alone may safely be used.
Use of quizzes or worksheets to help to strengthen the presentation.
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