Authorized Person(s) must isolate the energy source and make the machine, equipment, or system inoperative (establish a Zero Mechanical State) prior to performing any service or maintenance. Energy sources that must be safely controlled are electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, and mechanical system or other energy sources. Only properly trained Authorized Persons may isolate the energy source. Cord and plug equipment that only has a single electrical energy source that can be isolated by removing the cord and plug from the electrical receptacle is exempted from this policy provided that the following conditions apply:

• The employee will keep the cord and plug under their exclusive control while performing the service or maintenance task.
• There is no other stored energy source inside the equipment such as a capacitor that could harm the employee if it was not identified and/or isolated prior to doing the service or maintenance task.

Consultation and assistance from Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) is available to departments for establishing Lock Out procedures, providing safety awareness training on OSHA’s Lock Out Standard 29 CFR 1910.147, and information on Lock Out resources.

1. Departmental Responsibility:
   Departments are responsible for establishing and documenting Lock Out Tag Out procedures. Some available resources to assist departments include equipment manufacturers, their service representatives or, the equipment operator’s manual can provide information on how to safely isolate the equipment’s energy source(s) during service or maintenance activities. These procedures shall apply to each piece of equipment, machinery, or system under the department’s control that is serviced and maintained by the department’s faculty, staff, or students. Procedures may be established for classes of equipment or machinery if their function and operation are similar and the procedure can collectively account for the control of all hazardous energy sources.

   Departments must evaluate and document the effectiveness of their Lock Out Tag Out program each year and correct any noted deficiencies. The University of Virginia Lock Out Annual Review Form can help to document this requirement. The departmental program must meet the following requirements:

   1. Authorization through Training and Qualification – All persons must be authorized through training and qualification on the departmental Lock Out procedures for the equipment and machinery they are assigned to work on. This training must be completed before they can perform any service or maintenance. Training and qualification must include understanding safe operation of the equipment and the use of the Lock Out devices and warning tags provided by the department.

   2. Lock Out Devices, Individually Keyed Padlocks, and Warning Tags – Departments must provide appropriate lock out devices, individually keyed padlocks, and warning tags to each Authorized Person. Affected personnel who will be assigned to work on a locked out piece of equipment, machinery, or system including working in a controlled area, must be provided with their individual padlock and warning tag.

   3. Training for Affected Persons on Lock Out Tag Out – Departments must train all persons who may be affected by equipment and machinery shutdown. Training for those affected by equipment or machinery lock out must include recognition of warning tags, lock out devices, and that tags and locks can only be removed by the Authorized Person who took the equipment or machine out of operation. In addition, Affected Persons who will be assigned to perform a work task on the locked out piece of equipment, machinery, or system, including working in a controlled work area, must know how to install their own individual padlock and warning tag.

   4. University faculty, staff, and students are responsible for adhering to Departmental Lock Out procedures.

   5. Departments are responsible for requesting the installation of lockable energy isolation devices onto their equipment or machinery whenever there is major replacement, repairs, renovation, or modification to the equipment. Generally, the referenced equipment and machinery is production equipment (i.e., printing presses, press brake, etc.) and facilities equipment (i.e., HVAC, fans, motors, boilers, etc.) All newly purchased equipment and machinery must include specifications that the energy isolation device(s) are lockable.

   6. Outside Personnel (contractors) – The on-site representative for the department and the contractor’s representative must inform one another of their respective Lock Out procedures. The contractor’s personnel and the department’s personnel must comply with all restrictions, whichever is stricter, of one another's Lock Out procedures.

2. Compliance with Policy:
   Failure to comply with the requirements of this policy may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination or expulsion in accordance with relevant University policies.

   Questions about this policy should be directed to Environmental Health and Safety.