Introduction
Lockout/tagout (also called lockout/blockout) means that any
energy source, be it electrical, hydraulic, mechanical or
any other source that may cause unexpected movement, must
be disengaged or blocked, and electrical sources must be de-energized
and locked in the off position. In a U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics survey on injuries related to servicing equipment,
80 percent of workers surveyed failed to turn off the equipment
before performing the service work. There is a difference
between turning off a machine and actually disengaging a piece
of equipment. When turning off a control switch, you are opening
a circuit; however, there is still electrical energy at the
switch, and a short in the switch or someone turning on the
machine may start it running again.
Failure to lock out and block out machinery before working
on it is a major cause of injury and death in California and
the United States. Workers can be electrocuted or lose fingers,
hands, arms, or suffer severe crushing injuries because machinery
is inadvertently turned on while being serviced or maintained.
These injuries can be prevented by establishing an effective
lockout program. An effective lockout/tagout program should
include the following:
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