Campus Safety and Security

Lockout/Tagout, the Control of Hazardous Energy Sources

Section: Campus Safety and Security Policies
Policy Name: Lockout/Tagout, the Control of Hazardous Energy Sources
Policy Owner: Executive Vice President
Responsible University Office: Office of Environmental Health and Safety
Origination Date: April 15, 1975
Revisions: June 5, 1989; January 9, 2006; February 10, 2014
Legacy Policy Number: 7-12
  1. PURPOSE
    1. The purpose of this policy is to prevent injuries to employees from the unexpected energizing, start-up or release of stored energy from machines, equipment, or processes when such employees are engaged in activities where they are at risk from these hazardous energy sources.
    2. This policy requires departments to establish and implement procedures for affixing the appropriate lockout/tagout devices to energy isolating devices, and to otherwise disable machines, equipment or processes to prevent unexpected energizing, start-up or the release of stored energy.
  2. POLICY
    1. Each department shall ensure that before an employee performs any activities where the unexpected energizing, start-up or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, all potentially hazardous energy sources shall be isolated, locked/tagged out or otherwise disabled in accordance with the established procedures.
    2. This policy applies to the control of energy sources during servicing, installation, removal or maintenance of machines or equipment.
    3. This policy does not apply to the following:
      1. Work on plug and cord type electrical equipment, for which exposure to the hazards of unexpected energizing, start-up or the release of stored energy of the equipment is effectively controlled by other measures.
      2. Hot Tap operations involving transmission and distribution systems for substances such as gas, steam, water or petroleum products when they are performed on pressurized pipelines, provided that the department demonstrates that (1) continuity of service is essential; (2) shutdown of the system is impractical; and (3) documented procedures, and special equipment, are implemented which will provide proven effective protection for employees.
    4. Normal production operations are not covered by this policy.
    5. Servicing or maintenance which takes place during normal production operations, such as lubricating, cleaning, and making minor adjustments and simple tool changes, are not covered by this policy. If it is necessary to perform such servicing or maintenance with the machine or equipment energized, alternative measures, which the department can demonstrate will provide effective protection, must be used.

For a copy of the Lockout/Tagout procedures or more information regarding this policy, contact the Department of Environmental Health and Safety (ext. 8475) or click here.