Group lock-out tag-out procedures must also be clearly documented. They identify energy sources, provide step-by-step instruction for locking or tagging out energy sources, releasing stored energy, and verifying the equipment cannot be re-started after lockout is applied. Written procedures communicate important information to persons performing lock-out tag-out. Written procedures detailing the lock-out tag-out procedure are required for equipment having two or more energy sources. Affected employees are not permitted to perform servicing or maintenance work which requires a lock-out or tag-out. Affected employees are people who may be affected by or work near equipment which is locked or tagged out. They are the people who actually perform the lock-out tag-out. Training is required for two types of people "authorized employees" and "affected employees." Authorized employees are people who do the maintenance or servicing work. These are training, written procedures, and inspections. OSHA requires three basic elements in a lock-out tag-out program. It is important to remember all of the energy sources must be "isolated and rendered inoperative." Overlooking an energy source has proved fatal on several occasions. These energy sources include electrical (either active current or stored as in a capacitor), pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical, thermal, chemical, and the force of gravity. The lock-out tag-out standard requires that hazardous energy sources be "isolated and rendered inoperative" before maintenance or servicing work can begin. Without a lock-out tag-out system there is the possibility that a machine will unexpectedly start up, either because of stored energy which was not correctly released or through the actions of someone starting the process without realizing that it isn't safe to do so. "Lock-out tag-out" is a way to protect yourself and others by ensuring that machines remain completely, temporarily off. Many serious accidents have happened when someone thought a machine or the power to it was safely off.
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