Lockout: Lockout procedure elements

Non-compliance of lockout procedure is on of the main causes of lockout – related accidents, therefore, having a lockout procedure near to the equipment or in the company information system doesn’t guarantee workers optimal safety during tasks mentioned in the section 188.6 of the ROHS. The lockout procedure compliance depends basically on its content.

Lockout procedure elements according to the ROHS

The section 188.6 of the ROHS stipulate that a lockout procedure shall include elements such as:

• the identification of the machine
• the responsible person
• the identification and location of every control device and cut-off point of every energy source of the machine
• the type and quantity of material required for applying the lockout procedure
• the steps required to control the energy

The ROHS adds two additional points. The first is about measures to ensure the continuity of the application of a lockout out procedure (ex. materiel and information transfer during the staff rotation) and, the second, where applicable, providing details about PPE or any other complementary protection measure.

Lockout procedure elements according to the CSA Z460 standard

The section 4.3.2.4 of the CSA Z460-13 standard (lockout and other hazardous energy control methods) addresses also the content of a lockout procedure, respecting the same general guidelines as the ROHS of Quebec, the standard requires that the procedure shall include an identification of the equipment and/or the process, a listing and description of required energy-isolating devices, a description of procedural steps for locking out (primary and residual) and returning to service.

The CSA Z460 standard and the ROHS are consistent about basic requirements to achieve the lockout procedure aim, therefore the ROHS is more demanding about some formalities such as the identification of the responsible person, identification of the command device, (not the energy isolating devices), type and quantity of required materials and measures to ensure the continuity of lockout.

Elaboration and review

A processes of elaboration and/or revision of lockout procedure must be developed to take into account new equipment, changes to existing equipment and hazardous energy control methods improvements. It’s also necessary to standardize and unify the format of lockout procedures.

Validation and approval

Finally, lockout procedure has to be verified for accuracy, completeness and effectiveness by the responsible person, and be approved by the employer (or designee) before implementation.

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