Lockout Tagout
Lockout/Tagout at Meadowlark Hills
This course gives healthcare workers a general understanding of the control of hazardous energy and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s regulations that outline the safety precautions to be followed to prevent injury. After completing this course, healthcare workers will understand what to do when they see someone working on equipment, as well as how to protect themselves and residents from injury in that situation. Objectives As a result of completing this course, the learner will be able to:
Understand the basic definition of lockout/tagout (LOTO) and how it relates to the healthcare environment Discuss the importance of using equipment with various power sources safely List specific steps to take to protect yourself and others from injury when equipment is being installed, repaired, or adjusted in your facility Improve your vocabulary to include basic safety-related terms relative to this topic
Course Content
Chapters Chapter 1 of 4 The control of hazardous energy, or lockout/tagout, includes many different safety precautions designed to protect employees from injury. Injuries can include everything from minor scrapes to death from electrocution.
Your facility should have lockout/tagout procedures in place. These procedures and precautions apply to all facility employees. The same procedures and precautions can also be followed in your home. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established regulations found in 29 CFR 1910.147 (OSHA’s General Industry manual found at www.osha.gov) that require certain precautions be taken to reduce the likelihood of anyone being hurt, particularly while equipment is being installed, serviced, or repaired. OSHA estimates that approximately 3 million workers service equipment each year and risk injury if lockout/tagout procedures are not followed. OSHA estimates that compliance with lockout/tagout prevents 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries each year.
This course will give all employees a brief overview of lockout/tagout requirements. It is important to clearly understand your responsibilities when you are working around equipment that is being installed, serviced, or repaired.
Chapter 2 of 4 Lockout/tagout precautions apply to any equipment that is operated by power. Some forms of power may include the following:
Electrical Pneumatic Gravity Manual power
Most of the equipment in a healthcare facility operates on electrical power. Some examples of equipment that uses electrical power are lights, washers, dryers, vacuum cleaners, etc. Some of that equipment may have more than one source of power. For instance, a stove or dryer may use electricity, but may also use natural or propane gas. Every source of power must be locked out when equipment is being worked on.
Pneumatic power is power that comes from air or wind. Air compressors are a good example of pneumatic power.
Gravity and manual power are often overlooked. When power to machines is stopped, parts can keep moving due to gravity; it takes a few minutes for all the parts to stop. Be particularly careful with equipment that has just been turned off. For example, the blade on a table saw may continue turning after the machine is unplugged and could hurt you.
Almost any equipment in your workplace falls under the lockout/tagout standard. There is one exception! Lockout/tagout standards DO NOT apply to “plug-and-cordconnected” equipment.
Plug-and-cord-connected equipment is equipment that meets the following two criteria:
The equipment has an electrical cord that plugs directly into an outlet The equipment operator can see the outlet from where she stands to use the equipment
Copiers, computers, irons, household washers and dryers, and fans are examples of plugand-cord-connected equipment.
Employees installing equipment, working on it, or making minor adjustments to it are required to receive specific training on safe methods to do this work. These employees are referred to as “authorized employees” for lockout/tagout and might include maintenance workers, contract workers, or others skilled in equipment repair.
Chapter 3 of 4
A maintenance person or contract vendor who works on washers, dryers, ovens, or fryers is considered authorized if he has the authority and knowledge to work on the equipment and has been appropriately trained. OSHA defines a lockout device as a device used to isolate energy on equipment and prevent its use during repairs or service. Locks with a key, a combination, or both are often used. If more than one person is working on the equipment, each person should have a lock attached to the equipment.
All locks that are used for lockout/tagout in the facility must be of the same design and color so they are easily recognizable. Remember, you should never use one of these locks for anything other than lockout/tagout. Check with your supervisor to find out what kind of locks are designated for lockout/tagout in your facility. OSHA defines a tagout device as a prominent warning device, such as a tag made from cardboard or other sturdy material, that can be securely fastened to a machine to indicate that it cannot be used at this time.
The tags at Meadowlark Hills will either be red or yellow and include the name of the person working on the equipment. Never remove a tagout device from the equipment. Remember, tags give you information, but they do not protect you from injury. OSHA defines an energy source as any source of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal (heat), or other energy, including gravity.
Keep in mind that for lockout/tagout to be effective, all energy sources for equipment must be controlled before the authorized employee begins work on the equipment.
Chapter 4 of 4 Though there are a few exceptions, lockout/tagout is required any time a guard must be removed or a person must place any part of her body (even a finger!) inside an area of a machine or piece of equipment in order to work on it. At Meadowlark Hills, this could include, but is not limited to, work on heating and air conditioning units, industrial grade stoves, fryers, or electrical panels. It also includes sticking a hand into a washing machine once it starts filling with water!
If you see work being conducted that might involve lockout/tagout, pay attention to what is going on. NEVER turn the power on without permission from everyone working on the machine. You should never remove another person’s lock or tag. Only the owner of the lock or tag should remove it.
If there is no other option, a member of management should follow specific procedures documented in the organization’s safety policy regarding the removal of another person’s lock. Also, remember that locks designated for your lockout/tagout program cannot be used for any other purpose. This rule helps you to identify locks being used as a safety precaution under lockout/tagout. Remember locks for LOTO will be a specific type and color, and any time you see one in use, you should know to be very cautious. If you have any additional questions about lockout/tagout, please ask your supervisor for clarification.
This course gives healthcare workers a general understanding of the control of hazardous energy and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s regulations that outline the safety precautions to be followed to prevent injury. After completing this course, healthcare workers will understand what to do when they see someone working on equipment, as well as how to protect themselves and residents from injury in that situation. Objectives As a result of completing this course, the learner will be able to:
Understand the basic definition of lockout/tagout (LOTO) and how it relates to the healthcare environment Discuss the importance of using equipment with various power sources safely List specific steps to take to protect yourself and others from injury when equipment is being installed, repaired, or adjusted in your facility Improve your vocabulary to include basic safety-related terms relative to this topic
Course Content
Chapters Chapter 1 of 4 The control of hazardous energy, or lockout/tagout, includes many different safety precautions designed to protect employees from injury. Injuries can include everything from minor scrapes to death from electrocution.
Your facility should have lockout/tagout procedures in place. These procedures and precautions apply to all facility employees. The same procedures and precautions can also be followed in your home. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established regulations found in 29 CFR 1910.147 (OSHA’s General Industry manual found at www.osha.gov) that require certain precautions be taken to reduce the likelihood of anyone being hurt, particularly while equipment is being installed, serviced, or repaired. OSHA estimates that approximately 3 million workers service equipment each year and risk injury if lockout/tagout procedures are not followed. OSHA estimates that compliance with lockout/tagout prevents 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries each year.
This course will give all employees a brief overview of lockout/tagout requirements. It is important to clearly understand your responsibilities when you are working around equipment that is being installed, serviced, or repaired.
Chapter 2 of 4 Lockout/tagout precautions apply to any equipment that is operated by power. Some forms of power may include the following:
Electrical Pneumatic Gravity Manual power
Most of the equipment in a healthcare facility operates on electrical power. Some examples of equipment that uses electrical power are lights, washers, dryers, vacuum cleaners, etc. Some of that equipment may have more than one source of power. For instance, a stove or dryer may use electricity, but may also use natural or propane gas. Every source of power must be locked out when equipment is being worked on.
Pneumatic power is power that comes from air or wind. Air compressors are a good example of pneumatic power.
Gravity and manual power are often overlooked. When power to machines is stopped, parts can keep moving due to gravity; it takes a few minutes for all the parts to stop. Be particularly careful with equipment that has just been turned off. For example, the blade on a table saw may continue turning after the machine is unplugged and could hurt you.
Almost any equipment in your workplace falls under the lockout/tagout standard. There is one exception! Lockout/tagout standards DO NOT apply to “plug-and-cordconnected” equipment.
Plug-and-cord-connected equipment is equipment that meets the following two criteria:
The equipment has an electrical cord that plugs directly into an outlet The equipment operator can see the outlet from where she stands to use the equipment
Copiers, computers, irons, household washers and dryers, and fans are examples of plugand-cord-connected equipment.
Employees installing equipment, working on it, or making minor adjustments to it are required to receive specific training on safe methods to do this work. These employees are referred to as “authorized employees” for lockout/tagout and might include maintenance workers, contract workers, or others skilled in equipment repair.
Chapter 3 of 4
A maintenance person or contract vendor who works on washers, dryers, ovens, or fryers is considered authorized if he has the authority and knowledge to work on the equipment and has been appropriately trained. OSHA defines a lockout device as a device used to isolate energy on equipment and prevent its use during repairs or service. Locks with a key, a combination, or both are often used. If more than one person is working on the equipment, each person should have a lock attached to the equipment.
All locks that are used for lockout/tagout in the facility must be of the same design and color so they are easily recognizable. Remember, you should never use one of these locks for anything other than lockout/tagout. Check with your supervisor to find out what kind of locks are designated for lockout/tagout in your facility. OSHA defines a tagout device as a prominent warning device, such as a tag made from cardboard or other sturdy material, that can be securely fastened to a machine to indicate that it cannot be used at this time.
The tags at Meadowlark Hills will either be red or yellow and include the name of the person working on the equipment. Never remove a tagout device from the equipment. Remember, tags give you information, but they do not protect you from injury. OSHA defines an energy source as any source of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal (heat), or other energy, including gravity.
Keep in mind that for lockout/tagout to be effective, all energy sources for equipment must be controlled before the authorized employee begins work on the equipment.
Chapter 4 of 4 Though there are a few exceptions, lockout/tagout is required any time a guard must be removed or a person must place any part of her body (even a finger!) inside an area of a machine or piece of equipment in order to work on it. At Meadowlark Hills, this could include, but is not limited to, work on heating and air conditioning units, industrial grade stoves, fryers, or electrical panels. It also includes sticking a hand into a washing machine once it starts filling with water!
If you see work being conducted that might involve lockout/tagout, pay attention to what is going on. NEVER turn the power on without permission from everyone working on the machine. You should never remove another person’s lock or tag. Only the owner of the lock or tag should remove it.
If there is no other option, a member of management should follow specific procedures documented in the organization’s safety policy regarding the removal of another person’s lock. Also, remember that locks designated for your lockout/tagout program cannot be used for any other purpose. This rule helps you to identify locks being used as a safety precaution under lockout/tagout. Remember locks for LOTO will be a specific type and color, and any time you see one in use, you should know to be very cautious. If you have any additional questions about lockout/tagout, please ask your supervisor for clarification.
