Affected employee. An employee who is required to operate, use, or be in the area where a machine or equipment could be locked or tagged out for service or maintenance.

Authorized employee. An employee who locks or tags out a machine or equipment to do service or maintenance.

Can be locked out. An energy-isolating device that can be locked in the "off" or "safe" position.

Employer. Based on chapter 49.17 RCW, an employer is any person, firm, corporation, partnership, business trust, legal representative, or other business entity which engages in any business, industry, profession, or activity in this state and employs one or more employees or who contracts with one or more persons, the essence of which is the personal labor of such person or persons and includes the state, counties, cities, and all municipal corporations, public corporations, political subdivisions of the state, and charitable organizations: Provided, That any persons, partnership, or business entity not having employees, and who is covered by the Industrial Insurance Act must be considered both an employer and an employee.

Energized. Connected to an energy source or containing residual or stored energy.

Energy-isolating device. A mechanical device that physically prevents transmitting or releasing energy. This includes, but is not limited to:

(a) Manually operated electrical circuit breakers.

(b) Disconnect switches.

(c) Manually operated switches that disconnect the conductors of a circuit from all ungrounded supply conductors if no pole of the switch can be operated independently.

(d) Line valves.

(e) Blocks.

(f) Similar devices used to block or isolate energy.

Push buttons, selector switches and other control circuit type devices are not energy isolating devices.

Energy source. Any source of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal or other energy, including gravity.

Hot tap. A procedure which involves welding on pressurized pipelines, vessels, or tanks to install connections or accessories. It is commonly used to replace or add sections of pipeline used in air, gas, water, steam, and petrochemical distribution systems without interrupting service.

Lockout. Placing a lockout device on an energy-isolating device using an established procedure to make sure the machine or equipment cannot be operated until the lockout device is removed.

Lockout device. A device that uses a positive means, such as a key or combination lock, to hold an energy-isolating device in the "safe" or "off" position. This includes blank flanges and bolted slip blinds.

Normal production operations. Using a machine or equipment for its intended production function.

Primary authorized employee. An authorized employee who has overall responsibility for meeting the requirements of the lockout/tagout procedures.

Service and maintenance. Activities such as constructing, installing, setting-up, adjusting, inspecting, modifying, maintaining, and servicing machines or equipment. It also includes lubricating, cleaning, unjamming, and making tool changes.

Setting-up. Work done to prepare a machine or equipment for normal production operations.

Tagout. Placing a tagout device on an energy-isolating device using an established procedure to indicate that the energy-isolating device and the machine or equipment being controlled may not be operated until the tagout device is removed.

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

You. See definition of employer.

This chapter applies to the service and maintenance of machines and equipment, including piping systems, if employees could be injured by the:

(1) Unexpected energization or start up of the machine or equipment; or

(2) Release of stored energy.

Energy sources include mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, or other energy, including gravity.

To establish an energy control program.

(1) You must establish a written energy control program to protect employees that service or maintain a machine or equipment from injury caused by the:

(a) Unexpected energization or start up of the machine or equipment; or

(b) Release of stored energy.

(2) You must make sure the program contains all of the following:

(a) Energy control procedures as described in WAC 296-803-500.

(b) Employee training as described in WAC 296-803-600.

(c) Periodic reviews as described in WAC 296-803-700.

(3) You must develop and document in writing energy control procedures to protect employees doing service or maintenance of a machine or equipment from potentially hazardous energy.

(4) You must make sure energy control procedures clearly and specifically outline:

(a) The scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to control hazardous energy; and

(b) How you will make sure employees follow the procedures.

(5) You must make sure energy control procedures specifically identify at least the following:

(a) When the procedure must be used.

(b) What the specific procedural steps are for:

(i) Shutting down, isolating, blocking, and securing the machine or equipment.

(ii) Placing, removing, and transferring lockout or tagout devices and who is responsible for them.

(c) How to test the machine or equipment to verify the effectiveness of lockout devices, tagout devices, and other energy control measures.

To make sure new or modified machines and equipment can accept lockout devices.

You must make sure energy-isolating devices designed to accept a lockout device are provided on machines and equipment that:

(1) Are newly installed; or

(2) Have undergone major replacement, repair, renovation, or modification after July 2, 1990.

To provide appropriate lockout and tagout devices and means to control energy.

You must provide the means necessary to isolate, secure, or block machines and equipment from energy sources.

You must make sure lockout and tagout devices meet all of the following:

(1) Create no additional hazards.

(2) Have a distinctive design or appearance.

(3) Are the only devices used for controlling energy.

(4) Are not used for any other purpose.

(5) Are durable enough to withstand the environment they are used in for the maximum time they are expected to be used.

(6) Are standardized within the facility by color, shape, or size.

(7) Identify the person applying the device.

You must make sure lockout devices are strong enough so that removing them by other than the normal unlocking method requires:

(1) Excessive force; or

(2) Unusual techniques such as the use of bolt cutters or other metal-cutting tools.

(1) You must make sure all tags:

(a) Use the same print and format within a facility.

(b) Are constructed and printed so they will not deteriorate and the message on the tag remains legible when:

(i) Exposed to weather.

(ii) Used in wet or damp locations.

(iii) Used in corrosive environments such as areas where acid or alkali chemicals are handled or stored.

(c) Have a warning about not energizing the machine or equipment.

(2) You must make sure tagout devices are strong enough to prevent unintentional or accidental removal.

(3) You must make sure the means used to attach the tag to the energy-isolating device meets all of the following:

(a) Is not reusable.

(b) Is self-locking.

(c) Can be attached by hand.

(d) Cannot be released with a force of less than fifty pounds.

(e) Is similar in design and basic characteristics to a one-piece, all-environment-tolerant, nylon cable tie.

To make sure energy control procedures are used and include these requirements.

(1) You must use energy control procedures to protect employees servicing or maintaining machines and equipment from potentially hazardous energy.

(2) You must use a lockout system if an energy-isolating device can be locked out.

(3) You must use a tagout system if an energy-isolating device cannot be locked out.

(1) You must make sure, before a machine or equipment is turned off, that the authorized employee knows all of the following:

(a) Type and magnitude of the energy.

(b) Hazards of the energy to be controlled.

(c) Method or means to control the energy.

(2) You must turn off or shut down the machine or equipment using established procedures. An orderly shut down is necessary to avoid any additional or increased hazard to employees as a result of the equipment stoppage.

(3) You must completely isolate the machine or equipment from its energy sources using the appropriate energy-isolating devices after the machine or equipment has been turned off.

(4) You must make sure you or the authorized employee notify affected employees that the machine or equipment is being locked or tagged out before the devices are applied.

(5) You must make sure a lockout or tagout device is applied:

(a) For each energy-isolating device.

(b) Only by the authorized employee doing the service or maintenance.

You must make sure lockout devices hold the energy-isolating device in a "safe" or "off" position.

(1) You must make sure a tagout device is put on an energy-isolating device so it clearly shows that moving the energy-isolating device from the "safe" or "off" position is prohibited.

(2) You must make sure a tagout device, when used with an energy-isolating device that can be locked out, is fastened to the device at the same point a lock would have been attached.

(3) You must make sure a tagout device that cannot be attached directly to an energy-isolating device is located:

(a) As close as safely possible to the energy-isolating device; and

(b) In a position that is immediately obvious to anyone attempting to operate the energy-isolating device.

(1) You must make sure all potentially hazardous stored and residual energy is relieved, disconnected, restrained, or otherwise rendered safe after the lockout or tagout devices have been put on the energy-isolating devices.

(2) You must continue to verify the isolation of machines and equipment that could reaccumulate stored energy to a hazardous level until:

(a) Service or maintenance is completed; or

(b) The possibility of reaccumulating hazardous energy does not exist.

You must make sure the authorized employee verifies that the machine or equipment that has been locked out or tagged out has been isolated from all energy sources and deenergized before starting work.

(1) You must make sure the authorized employee does the following before removing any lockout or tagout device:

(a) Inspects the work area to make sure nonessential items have been removed;

(b) Verifies the machine or equipment is in operating condition and ready to energize; and

(c) Check that employees in the area are in positions that make it safe to energize the machine or equipment.

(2) You must make sure only the authorized employee who applied a lockout or tagout device removes it.

(3) You must notify affected employees before energizing or starting the machine or equipment that the lockout or tagout devices have been removed.

You must follow your normal energy control procedures to:

(1) Remove the lockout or tagout devices.

(2) Energize the machine, equipment, or component.

(3) Reapply the lockout or tagout devices when testing or positioning is completed.

You must use specific procedures for shift or personnel changes to:

(1) Make sure there is continuous lockout or tagout protection during the change; and

(2) Provide for the orderly transfer of lockout or tagout device protection between employees.

(1) You must make sure your energy control procedures provide each member of a crew, craft, department, or other group with the same level of protection as that provided by an individual lockout or tagout device.

(2) You must make sure each authorized employee:

(a) Puts a personal lockout or tagout device on the group lockout device, lockbox, or comparable mechanism before beginning work; and

(b) Does not remove it until they have finished work on the machine or equipment.

(3) You must assign a primary authorized employee who:

(a) Has overall responsibility for the service or maintenance;

(b) Attaches their lockout or tagout device to the energy-isolating device when the equipment is deenergized and before any work begins; and

(c) Is the last person to remove their lockout or tagout device when the job is completed.

You must do all of the following if more than one group works on a machine or equipment that has to be locked or tagged out:

(1) Assign an authorized employee as the group coordinator with overall responsibility to:

(a) Coordinate the different work groups; and

(b) Maintain continuous lockout or tagout protection.

(2) Assign a primary authorized employee in each group who has:

(a) Responsibility for the group of employees who are protected by a group lockout or tagout device; and

(b) A way to determine which employees of the group are exposed to the machine or equipment that is locked or tagged out.

You must do the following before allowing another employer's personnel to service or maintain machines or equipment if your energy control procedures require they be locked or tagged out:

(1) Inform the outside employer of your lockout or tagout procedures.

(2) Make sure the outside employer informs you of their lockout or tagout procedures.

(3) Make sure you and the outside employer confirm that all employees understand and will follow the restrictions of the other employer's energy control program.

To train employees on your energy control program.

(1) You must train employees to make sure that they:

(a) Understand the purpose and function of the energy control program; and

(b) Have the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out their program responsibilities.

(2) You must train each authorized employee in:

(a) The type and magnitude of energy available in the workplace.

(b) Recognizing hazardous energy sources that apply.

(c) Methods and means to isolate and control energy.

(3) You must instruct each affected employee in the purpose and use of the energy control procedures.

(4) You must instruct all employees who work or may work where energy control procedures might be used about the:

(a) Procedures being used; and

(b) Prohibition against attempting to restart or reenergize a machine or equipment that is locked out or tagged out.

(5) You must document that employee training has been done and kept up to date.

Include the employee's name and the training date.

You must make sure employees are trained in the following:

(1) Tags are warning devices and do not provide the same level of physical restraint as a lock.

(2) When attached to energy-isolating devices, tags are not to be:

(a) Removed without the approval of the authorized person responsible for it; or

(b) Bypassed, ignored, or otherwise defeated.

(3) Tags need to be legible and understandable to be effective.

(4) Tags may evoke a false sense of security.

(5) The meaning of tags needs to be understood as part of the overall energy control program.

(6) Tags and their means of attachment must be:

(a) Securely attached to energy-isolating devices so they cannot be inadvertently or accidentally detached; and

(b) Made of materials that will withstand the environmental conditions they will be exposed to.

(1) You must retrain authorized and affected employees to introduce new or revised control methods and procedures when there is a change in any of the following:

(a) Job assignments.

(b) Machines, equipment, or processes that present a new hazard.

(c) Energy control procedures.

(2) You must retrain employees to reestablish proficiency when:

(a) A periodic review shows the employee deviates from, or has inadequate knowledge of, the energy control procedures; or

(b) The employer has reason to believe retraining is necessary.

To do periodic reviews to make sure employees know and use your energy control procedures.

(1) You must do a periodic review at least annually to:

(a) Make sure employees know and can apply the energy control procedures.

(b) Correct any deviations or inadequacies identified.

(2) You must have the periodic review done by an authorized employee other than the ones using the energy control procedure being reviewed.

(3) You must document that periodic reviews have been done.

Include all of the following:

(a) Machine or equipment the energy control procedure was used for.

(b) Date of the review.

(c) Employees included in the review.

(d) Person doing the review.

You must make sure, if a periodic review involves lockout devices, the reviewing employee reviews responsibilities with each authorized employee who uses the procedure.

You must make sure, if a periodic review involves tagout devices, the reviewing employee reviews with each authorized and affected employee the:

(1) Employee's responsibilities under the procedure; and

(2) Limitations of tagout devices.