Energy Control Procedures

On certain pieces of equipment, your department may have to develop specific lockout/tagout procedures that must be followed in order to shut-down and start-up the equipment. These procedures are called "Energy Control Procedures".

Let's review the steps you would find in a basic Energy Control Procedure:

1. Preparation for shutdown: Before an authorized or affected employee turns off a machine or equipment, the authorized employee must have knowledge of the type and magnitude of the energy, the hazards of the energy to be controlled, and the method or means to control the energy.

2. Machine or equipment shutdown: The machine or equipment must be turned off or shut down using the procedures established to avoid any additional hazards to employees as a result of the machine or equipment stoppage.

3. Machine or equipment isolation: All energy-isolating devices that are needed to control the machine's energy source must be located. These devices may include: valves and disconnects which isolate the machine or equipment from its energy source(s).

4. Lockout or tagout device application: Locks and tags must be attached to each energy-isolating device by authorized employees. Locks must be attached in a manner that will hold the energy isolating devices in a "safe" or "off" position. Where tagout devices are used, the tag should be attached in a manner that will clearly indicate that the operation or movement of energy isolating devices from the "safe" or "off" position is prohibited. If the tag can not be affixed directly to the energy isolating device, the tag must be located as close as safely possible to the device, in a position that will be immediately obvious to anyone attempting to operate the device.

5. Stored energy: After the energy-isolating device has been locked out or tagged out, all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy must be relieved, disconnected, restrained, and otherwise rendered safe.

6. Verification of isolation: Before any work begins on machines or equipment that have been locked out or tagged out, an authorized employee must verify that the machine or equipment has been properly isolated and de-energized. Depending on the specific piece of equipment you are servicing or maintaining, there may be one source of energy to lockout/tagout, or there could be many sources of energy that must be isolated before beginning maintenance activities.