Goal of the policy

• A lockout/tagout policy is designed to prevent the unanticipated start of machinery or equipment during service and maintenance. For example, if a maintenance man shuts off a breaker in order to change a light fixture and someone else comes along and flips the breaker, the results could be the electrocution of the maintenance man. Or if a large conveyor is shut down for repair and someone comes along and starts it, the people working on it could be injured. Lockout/tagout prevents this from happening.
  
  At its simplest, lockout/tagout requires that a barrier or lock be placed on controls or breakers during maintenance or repair. Locks are preferable, since a key or combination is required to open them. In order to turn on the equipment, the employee would have to remove the lock or barrier. The presence of the lock or barrier alerts everyone that the equipment is shut down for maintenance or repair. Only the person who installed the lock or barrier---or his representative---may remove it.
  
  

Implementing a policy

• Routine service activities and minor adjustments are exempt from lockout/tagout requirements, provided they present no hazard to employees.
  
  The lock in lockout/tagout refers to the actual lock or other barrier designed to prevent the equipment from being turned on. The tagout refers to a tag identifying who has placed the lock. In a large manufacturing facility there could be separate lockout/tagout for electricians, HVAC, sheet metal workers and others.
  
  A written lockout/tagout procedure should include specific instructions for shutting down and blocking access to hazardous machinery, procedures for placing the lockout/tagout devices and methods of identifying the locks and tags. For instance, tags could be color-coded for different departments or labeled with code numbers or with names. The written plan should also include requirements to verify the effectiveness of lockout/tagout, a training program for employees, and policies for outside contractors, shift changes, and multiple lockout/tagouts.