Page 76 - OHS, July/August 2020

TRAINING: LOCKOUT/TAGOUT
Incorporating a Transfer Lock System into Your Lockout Program
Many companies face significant challenges in achieving an effective and compliant lockout/tagout program—especially as it pertains to lockout. BY BILL BELONGEA
OSHA has specific regulations for protecting employees from the unexpected energiza- tion or startup of machinery and equip- ment.
Commonly referred to as the “Lockout/Tagout standard,” guidelines for the control of hazardous en- ergy are outlined in OSHA’s 1910.147 standard, which requires employers to “establish a program and utilize procedures for affixing appropriate lockout/tagout devices to prevent injury to employees.”1 Such a pro- gram is mandatory not only for OSHA compliance, but also for the overall protection and well-being of employees.
Understanding the OSHA lockout/tagout stan- dard is critically important, especially as the standard consistently ranks on OSHA’s annual list of top ten
violations. According to a report released by OSHA last year, the lockout/tagout standard was listed as the fourth most frequently cited violation in 2019, with
2 2,975 violations reported.
Violations not only result in fines that can impact a businesses’ profitability, but OSHA estimates that proper compliance with the lockout/tagout standard can prevent over 120 fatalities and more than 50,000 injuries every year.3
While it’s critically important to have an effective and compliant lockout/tagout program in place, many companies face significant challenges in achieving this objective—especially as it pertains to lockout.
According to research based on field experience and first-hand conversations with thousands of cus- tomers across the U.S., less than 10 percent of employ-
70 Occupational Health & Safety | JULY/AUGUST 2020
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