Changes in Standard CSA Z460:20

An update to standard CSA Z460 on lockout and other energy control methods was published in August 2020. The following previously published blogs address various aspects of lockout that are still relevant and may also be of use to you.

• Lockout of Mobile Equipment
• Energy Control Method Other Than Lockout
• Tips on Electrical Zero Energy Verification
• Lockout Program
• Elements of a Lockout Procedure
• Individually Keyed Lock and Information Tag

The 2020 version of standard CSA Z460 contains a few notable additions over the previous version. The points listed below address the main changes made, the most significant of which are in the annexes of the standard.

7.3.2.3 Hazardous energy control procedures

The term “lockout sheet” is replaced by “energy control procedure” or “lockout procedure” in the 2020 version of the standard. This term therefore becomes standardized with the Regulation respecting occupational health and safety (RROHS or RSST).

7.3.9 Remote locations

By way of clarification of what is considered to be a remote location, it is specified that each organization should establish what it considers to be a remote location with as an example “a work area away from a control center.” These can be pipeline networks, who pumping stations are far apart from each other; or gas and electricity distribution networks.

In these cases, the people doing the work are not the ones applying lockout. Therefore, communication challenges are high and “documented procedures must be followed in conjunction with the obtainment of written authorizations.”

In addition, a suggestion is made in the 2020 version to have the lockout verified, if possible, by a second authorized person, in the case of remote locations.

Annex D: Templates for lockout program and policy, general lockout procedure (individual) and approved energy control procedure

The formatting has changed but the content remains the same except for the addition of an individual lockout process flowchart that details all the steps from task assignment to completion, including the affixing of a supervisory padlock in case of postponement of work.

Annex E: Lockout signs, flow diagrams and nomenclature standards (formerly, Annex E: Lockout sheets)

The main addition to Annex E is part E.1 which is an example of a nomenclature standard. This part can be very useful for organizations that want to set up a new identification of cut-off points which should all have a unique identifier easily visible in place.

The rest of Annex E uses the same examples of signs and lockout procedure (sheets), formatted differently.

Annex F: Group lockout procedure template

This is Annex G of the previous version with some modifications (formatting, images, etc.). In particular, two flowcharts are added: a flowchart of the individual lockout process and a flowchart of the group lockout process. They present the completion of a complete lockout procedure. There is also a testing flowchart. Testing being the partial or complete energy reset during the intervention for tests or other needs before resetting to zero energy and continuing.

Section F.2 explains the use of an auxiliary lockout box in the context of group lockout involving a large number of authorized workers. This process involves the use of a supervisory lock and allow for faster lockout and termination.

Annex I: Advice on construction sites

This is an addition to the 2020 version of the standard. Construction sites are the scene of many more or less complex activities carried out simultaneously by many companies. This Annex states that “the host user’s hazardous energy control program be used to coordinate all external services and external contractor programs.” It also lists 18 points guiding compliance with this requirement. For example, the use of zonal isolation methods is recommended when energizing the electrical network of a construction site.

Annex M: Information on mobile equipment and machinery

Section M.4 is an addition to the 2020 version. It emphasizes the following 4 points concerning vehicles with internal combustion engines:

• The risks associated with starting internal combustion engines that are not equipped with a lockable energy isolation device that prevent starting;
• The energy isolation devices on mobile equipment;
• The potential and residual sources of hazardous energy, which are frequent on mobile equipment.

These additions help to identify the potential sources of dangers on mobile equipment and the measures to be put in place to control energy.

Annex N: Control method for other energy systems

This new annex aims to identify the risks and measures to be taken specific to energy systems such as wind turbines and solar panels. These are two examples of the application of the concept of energy control in the environment around the intervention area. For example, one can isolate the source of electrical energy supplying the systems, but the wind turbine or the electrical panel themselves produce electricity and therefore become another source of energy to be controlled.

Annex S: Example of the decision-making process for other control methods

This new annex notably contains a table with many examples of tasks compared to the selection criteria to figure out whether these tasks can be performed using a method other than lockout. It is the purpose of this annex, as well as to help identify a method of controlling the energy.

Appendix T: Consideration of human performance factors

Behind the notion of human performance is the notion of human errors or of human factors in the occurrence of incidents or accidents.  As the application of energy management methods is human-based, this addition to the standard makes it possible to tackle the management of human errors in order to limit them as much as possible and thus improve the efficiency of work methods.