Environmental Health and Safety

Control of Hazardous Energy Sources (Lockout/Tagout Program)

I. OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES

Hazardous energy may appear in a variety of forms in the workplace. These include electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and thermal energy sources. Other sources also exist, such as springs under tension or compression, and chemical, water, gas, and steam energy sources. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration estimates that compliance with the Lockout/Tagout standard prevents an estimated 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries each year.

This program requires that all hazardous energy sources which could activate a machine be de-energized or blocked and locked prior to cleaning, servicing, or adjustment operations. Although a machine is locked out, it may have suspended parts, subject to gravity, or may contain energy stored in springs that must be blocked. After securing hazardous energy sources, testing the equipment is required to verify that it is secure.

The objective of this document is to describe a program for the control of hazardous energy sources at SDSU. This program shall be known as the SDSU Control of Hazardous Energy Sources Lockout/Tagout Program, and its principal elements are energy-control procedures and employee training.