Lockout energy control placarding for power distribution equipment

Lockout energy control, also commonly referred to as lockout-tagout, is a safety technique well known to industry due to its requirement by Federal law, CFR 29, 1910.147 and as supplemented by CFR 1910 Subpart "S". Properly implemented lockout energy control procedures utilize properly rated disconnect devices to open the different supplies of energy to a machine. These disconnect devices are then physically locked so that energy flow is prevented during the work process. Proper testing is performed to verify that the equipment has been placed in an electrically safe work condition. Use of lockout techniques is required in most facilities, including power distribution facilities, but is often established in many differing ways. Many times, flags, tags, the instructions of a system operator, or other means are utilized in power distribution facilities to approximate the same level of safety as is afforded by use of actual physical locks. Extensive training is required to maintain the integrity of these alternate systems, but chance of error is greater than in the systems where locks are used. Use of personal locks also squarely places the responsibility achieving the electrically safe condition of the equipment upon the worker or employee. The tool discussed in this paper, called a placard, has been used in some industrial facilities to enhance the federal requirements of a lockout energy control program. This tool has been applied to power distribution equipment. The development and implementation of this tool, its advantages, and difficulties encountered during the process are discussed.