Lockout/Tagout Risk Assessment

Lockout/Tagout Risk Assessments provide essential information for ensuring worker safety, OSHA compliance, and developing an Energy Control Program. Circle Safety will conduct the lockout/tagout risk assessment at your facility, walking your floor and identifying risks. We then present our findings in a written report with procedures for each identified risk.

OSHA and other regulatory agencies mandate lockout/tagout protocols to prevent serious worker injuries caused by the accidental start-up of equipment or release of stored energy. By implementing an Energy Control Program, your company can establish procedures to control an energy source during the servicing and maintenance of equipment and help prevent serious, and sometimes deadly, incidents..

What Does the Assessment Include?

Identify all tasks—Each work activity involving contact with hazardous energy will be identified. This includes setup, installation, removal, maintenance, operating, adjusting, cleaning, troubleshooting, and programming.
Identify the hazards of each task—What type and magnitude of energy are involved?
Assess potential employee exposure to the hazards.
Assess the probability of the occurrence of the hazard.
Evaluate the severity of the risk.
Develop lockout procedures to minimize the risk.

Benefits

Protects the health and lives of workers
Ensures OSHA and other regulatory compliance
Establishes a well-defined lockout/tagout plan
Allows for the development of your company’s Energy Control Program
Protects your company’s reputation

What Is Lockout/Tagout?

Lockout/tagout involves manually de-energizing and securing equipment, machinery, or processes so hazardous energy isn’t re-introduced during servicing or repair. This includes closing electrical circuits and valves, neutralizing extreme temperatures, securing moving parts, and more.

Each employer must have an Energy Control Program outlining the steps to de-energize machines and lock out energy sources. A lockout/tagout program reduces the risk of injury due to the unintended or accidental release of hazardous energy.

Frequent consequences of not properly implementing lockout/tagout procedures include worker death, OSHA citations, and massive penalties.

Specific Steps Involved in the Lockout/Tagout Procedure

Basic Lockout Steps
Preparation for Lockout – Review the procedure
Notify all affected employees of the Lockout
Shutdown the equipment using the normal shutdown procedure
Isolate the machine from the energy source
Apply the Lockout device and tags to each energy source
Release any stored energy

Verify that the equipment is de-energized by attempting to operate
Perform work
Before releasing Lockout – Inspect the area to ensure tools are removed and the machine is reassembled
Notify all affected employees of the release
Remove the lockout device
Start the equipment

Potential Hazards Associated With Lockout/Tagout Procedure

Electrical
Mechanical
Pneumatic
Compressed Air
Radiation

Flowing
High-intensity electromagnetic fields
Chemical
Gravity
And more

“Very impressed with their capabilities. Glad to find a local firm industrial hygiene issues at a high level.”

– Major K.

Lockout/Tagout FAQs

In addition to electricity, what else can “hazardous energy” include?

Hazardous energy sources include chemical, thermal, pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical, and more.

How often do lockout/tagout procedures need to be updated?

Your company must review and certify your lockout/tagout procedures annually.

What does “stored energy” mean?

After you’ve unplugged the machine from its power source, it could still have an immense amount of energy stored in its internals. That energy could suddenly, explosively, and catastrophically be released while your employees are servicing the machine. This is why it is vital to release any remaining stored energy before giving the all-clear.