Lock out/Tag out Management Plan

This policy is designed to ensure that University employees comply with the "Lockout/Tagout" program. This program includes procedures for using energy isolating devices to disable machines or equipment to prevent unexpected start up or release of stored energy that may cause injuries.

This policy applies to all University employees who may perform service and/or maintenance on machines and equipment capable of "unexpected" start up or release of stored energy.

The Facilities Department is responsible for developing and maintaining the Lock Out /Tag Out Program (LOTO) and Supervisors should be periodically inspecting LOTO projects. The Department of Environmental Health and Radiation Safety will assist or provide Facilities and other authorized employees with the core training and conduct an annual program review.

Supervisors must ensure that all LOTO requirements are followed.

Contractors performing work at the University must follow, at a minimum, the SJU LOTO procedures.

The Facilities Department will provide operation/equipment - specific written procedures for hazardous energy control. These procedures are detailed in a written Lockout / Tagout Program. Lockout / Tagout procedures should only be initiated by authorized employees.

Maintenance of Electrically Energized Equipment

Authorized Employee is an employee who locks out or tags out machines or equipment in order to service or maintain them. All authorized employees must successfully complete the required training.

Affected Employee is an employee whose job requires the operation or use of a machine or equipment on which servicing or maintenance is being performed under Lockout/Tagout or whose job requires working in an area in which such servicing or maintenance is being performed. An affected worker cannot perform work under a Lockout/Tagout permit.

Contractor is any individual or firm working at the university that is not a university employee.

Energy Isolating Device is a device that prevents the transmission or release or energy. An "energy source" is any source of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, or other energy.

Lockout is the placement of a locking device on an energy-isolating device that ensures the equipment being controlled cannot be operated until the lockout device is removed. "Lockout device" is a device that utilizes a positive means such as a lock, either key or combination type, to hold an energy-isolating device in the safe position.

Other Employees are those whose work operations are or may be in an area where energy control procedures are utilized.

Tagout is the placement of an attachable tag on an energy-isolating device to indicate that the energy isolating device and the equipment being controlled may not be operated until the tagout device is removed.

Tagout Device is a prominent warning device, such as a tag and a means of attachment, which can be securely fastened to indicate that the energy isolating device and the equipment being controlled may not be operated until the tagout device is removed.

Saint Joseph’s University and the outside Contractor firm must inform each other of their respective Lockout/Tagout procedures. The responsibility of training outside contractor employees lies with their employer. 4.2.1. The contractor LOTO program must be reviewed by an authorized or affected University employee in detail to ensure that University employees would not be injured as a result of allowing the Contractor's LOTO program and procedures to be implemented at the facility.

Employees shall be trained so that they understand the purpose and function of the LOTO program and procedures. Employees shall also be trained so that they understand the purpose, contents and requirements of 29 CFR 1910.147, The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout). 4.3.1. Authorized Employees shall receive training in the recognition of sources of hazardous energy, the types and magnitudes of hazardous energy and the means and methods of isolation and control.

Affected Employees shall be instructed in the purpose and use of the University's LOTO program.

Other Employees shall be instructed about the University's LOTO program and about the prohibition against attempting to restart equipment, machines or systems that have been locked and tagged out of service.

The Department of Environmental Health and Radiation Safety will assist or provide Facilities and other authorized employees with the core hazardous energy control training. Supervisors must provide site and equipment specific training.

Retraining is required whenever there is a change in job assignment, machines, equipment or processes that present a new hazard or a change in the energy control procedures.

Each Department and the Department of Environmental Health and Radiation Safety will maintain training records, including each employee's name and dates of training. Departments should maintain records of LOTO inspections.

KEY REFERENCES
The documents listed below may be obtained from the Department of Environmental Health and Radiation Safety:

• Saint Joseph’s University Facilities Management Lock Out/Tag Out Program
• The OSHA Hazardous Energy Control Standard - 29 CFR 1910.147