(1) Controls. You must tag and padlock controls that are deactivated during the course of work on energized or deenergized equipment or circuits in the open position.
(2) Equipment and circuits. You must render equipment or circuits that are deenergized inoperative and attach tags and locked padlocks at all points where such equipment or circuits can be energized.
(3) Tags. You must place tags to identify plainly the equipment or circuits being worked on.
(4) Lockout and tagging. While any employee is exposed to contact with parts of fixed electric equipment or circuits which have been deenergized, you must lock out, tag, or both the circuits energizing the parts according to the requirements of this section. You must follow the requirements in the order in which they are presented (i.e., (a) of this subsection first, then (b) of this subsection).
Note 1: | As used in this section, fixed equipment refers to equipment fastened in connected by permanent wiring methods. |
Note 2: | Lockout and tagging procedures that comply with chapter 296-803 WAC will also be deemed to comply with this subsection provided that: |
| 1. The procedures address the electrical safety hazards covered by this part; and |
| 2. The procedures also incorporate the requirements of (c)(iv) and (d)(ii) of this subsection. |
(a) Procedures. You must maintain a written copy of the procedures outlined in this subsection and you must make it available for inspection by employees and by the director and his/her authorized representative.
Note: | The written procedures may be in the form of a copy of this section, WAC 296-155-429. |
(b) Deenergizing equipment.
(i) You must determine procedures for deenergizing circuits and equipment before circuits or equipment are deenergized.
(ii) You must disconnect the circuits and equipment to be worked on from all electric energy sources. You must not use control circuit devices, such as push buttons, selector switches, and interlocks, as the sole means for deenergizing circuits or equipment. You must not use interlocks for electric equipment as a substitute for lockout and tagging procedures.
(iii) You must release stored electric energy which might endanger personnel. You must discharge capacitors and you must short-circuit and ground high capacitance elements, if the stored electric energy might endanger personnel.
Note: | If the capacitors or associated equipment are handled in meeting this requirement, you must treat them as energized. |
(iv) You must block or relieve stored nonelectrical energy in devices that could reenergize electric circuit parts to the extent that the circuit parts could not be accidentally energized by the device.
(c) Application of locks and tags.
(i) You must place a lock and a tag on each disconnecting means used to deenergize circuits and equipment on which work is to be performed, except as provided in (c)(iii) and (v) of this subsection. You must attach the lock to prevent persons from operating the disconnecting means unless they resort to undue force or the use of tools.
(ii) Each tag must contain a statement prohibiting unauthorized operation of the disconnecting means and removal of the tag.
(iii) If a lock cannot be applied, or if you can demonstrate that tagging procedures will provide a level of safety equivalent to that obtained by the use of a lock, a tag may be used without a lock.
(iv) You must supplement a tag used without a lock, as permitted by item (iii) of this subsection, by at least one additional safety measure that provides a level of safety equivalent to that obtained by the use of a lock. Examples of additional safety measures include the removal of an isolating circuit element, blocking of a controlling switch, or opening of an extra disconnecting device.
(v) A lock may be placed without a tag only under the following conditions:
(A) Only one circuit or piece of equipment is deenergized; and
(B) The lockout period does not extend beyond the work shifts; and
(C) Employees exposed to the hazards associated with reenergizing the circuit or equipment are familiar with this procedure.
(d) Verification of deenergized condition. You must meet the requirements of this subsection before any circuits or equipment can be considered and worked as deenergized.
(i) A qualified person must operate the equipment operating controls or otherwise verify that the equipment cannot be restarted.
(ii) A qualified person must use test equipment to test the circuit elements and electrical parts of equipment to which employees will be exposed and must verify that the circuit elements and equipment parts are deenergized. The test must also determine if any energized conditions exists as a result of inadvertently induced voltage or unrelated voltage backfeed even though specific parts of the circuit have been deenergized and presumed to be safe. If the circuit to be tested is over 600 volts, nominal, the test equipment must be checked for proper operation immediately before and immediately after this test.
(e) Reenergizing equipment. These requirements must be met, in the order given, before circuits or equipment are reenergized, even temporarily.
(i) A qualified person must conduct tests and visual inspections, as necessary, to verify that all tools, electrical jumpers, shorts, grounds, and other such devices have been removed, so that the circuits and equipment can be safely energized.
(ii) You must warn employees exposed to the hazards associated with reenergizing the circuit or equipment to stay clear of circuits and equipment.
(iii) Each lock and tag must be removed by the employee who applied it or under his or her direct supervision. However, if this employee is absent from the work place, then the lock or tag may be removed by a qualified person designated to perform this task provided that:
(A) You ensure that the employee who applied the lock or tag is not available at the work place; and
(B) You ensure that the employee is aware that the lock or tag has been removed before he or she resumes work at that work place.
(iv) There must be a visual determination that all employees are clear of the circuits and equipment.