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'= > F. Lock out — Tag out Basic Rules <br />Workers performing service or maintenance on machinery and equipment may be exposed to injuries <br />from the unexpected energizing, startup of machinery or equipment, or release of stored energy in <br />equipment. <br />The Lock out/Tag out standard requires the adoption and implementation of practices and procedures <br />to shut down equipment, isolate it from its energysource(s), and prevent the release of potentially <br />hazardous energy while.maintenance and servicing activities are being performed. It contains minimum <br />performance requirements, and definitive criteria for establishing an effective program for the control <br />of hazardous energy. However, employers have the flexibility to develop lock out/tag out programs that <br />are suitable for their respective facilities. <br />Hazardous energy can take many forms from electricity to kinetic energy to air or gas pressure orwater <br />pressure. What is important to remember is that stored energy, regardless of type, can be lethal to us if <br />unexpectedly released. <br />The LOTO program is designed to prevent this release until we are absolutely certain that all system <br />components have been maintained or repaired properly and completely and all employees are no <br />longer working on the system. <br />In our work, LOTO applies to both electrical stored energy and fluid pressure stored energy. Water main <br />systems are closed using valves and these valves are chained and locked to prevent operation during the <br />completion of our work. The same occurs with sewer systems and customer owned, plant operated <br />discharges, vents and other devices. <br />Locks are the cornerstone of the program. Only those personnel working on a system may lockout that <br />system and those same personnel must remove their locks when their work is complete. No employee <br />may remove another employee's lock. The system to be locked out must be investigated for the <br />presence of all valves and switches that may energize that system, and all those valves and switches <br />must be locked out by the same personnel. The complete version of the company LOTO Program can be <br />found in the full version of the Johnson — Davis Safety Manual. <br />17 <br />