Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: LOCKOUT

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to the hazards of being caught in, crushing and/or amputation when clearing jams, setting-up making adjustments and performing maintenance on Tube assembly machines and Dial assembly machines. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to reduce these hazards is to establish management controls over the work being performed; to instruct workers in the recognition of hazards; to ensure safe shut down of machinery or equipment, by blocking, stopping, bleeding air cylinders, and reducing machinery or equipment to the zero mechanical state; and to establish and enforce a comprehensive written procedure for lockout which would include the following essentials: A lockout procedure should include the following elements as a minimum: 1) Establish a comprehensive written procedure for lock-out which include procedures designed to instruct and train employees in recognition of hazards and proper lock-out procedures. 2) Require lock-out before any maintenance, inspection, clearing, adjusting or servicing that requires employees to enter or be in close contact with machinery or equipment. 3) Maintain available operation and maintenance manuals on all machinery or equipment. Assure that these manuals and other appropriate information are provided to employees before work is begun. 4) Establish and use a documented work order system which includes Supervisors' approval to reactivate machinery or equipment. 5) Disconnect or isolate machinery or equipment by positioning the switch, valve or other energy isolating device so that all energy sources (e.g. electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, etc.) are deactivated. Stored energy such as that in capacitors, springs, elevated machine members, rotating flywheels, hydraulic systems and gas, air, steam or water pressure, etc., must be dissipated or restrained by methods such as grounding, repositioning, blocking, bleeding down, etc., 6) Require that each exposed employee lock-out the energy isolating device with his/her personal lock. 7) Test machinery or equipment to ensure that the energy sources have been effectively disconnected or isolated. As a precautionary measure return the operating controls to the "OFF" position after the test has been completed. NOTE: The test shall only be performed after ensuring that no employees are exposed in the machine or equipment area. 8) Remove locks only after ensuring the safety of all exposed employees. 9) Train employees responsible for machinery or equipment lock-out in all elements of the program. This training shall be repeated as frequently as necessary to maintain management and work proficiency and compliance with the procedure. 10) Evaluate the program periodically to ensure continued use and adequacy. 11) Enforce all provisions of the program.