Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001A 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 hazard of being electrocuted when performing repairs on electrical equipment: In the establishment the employer did not have lock-out procedures to de-energize electrical power sources and reducing machinery to zero mechanical state as evident by maintenance employee being exposed to live 220 volt electrical equipment while rebuilding the fuse box for a 34 inch man cooling fan located at hammer No. 7. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct these hazards is to establish administrative controls and procedures over the work being performed which will instruct workers in the recognition of these hazards; ensure safe shut down of machinery and equipment by blocking, stopping or otherwise reducing to a zero mechanical state. Specific elements of the abatement program shall be expected to include, but not necessarily be limited to: 1) Established a comprehensive written procedure for lock-out which includes procedures designed to instruct and train employees in recognition of hazards and proper lock-out procedures. 2) Requires lock-out before any maintenance, inspection, clearing, adjusting or servicing that requries 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. 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 de- activated. Stored energy such as that in capacitors, springs, elevatedmachine 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 perodically to ensure continued use and adequacy. 11) Enforce all provisions of the program.