Meat&Poultry - February 2013 - 56

Sanitation Tips

Protecting
employees

•
•

Provide training to employees.
Develop provisions to take
into account when equipment or machines have to be
moved or tested, when outside contractors work in the

Sanitation workers and maintenance employees may be

facility and during personnel

exposed to serious physical harm or death if hazardous

or shift changes.

energy from machines and equipment is not properly con-

Since every operation is different, OSHA provides the

trolled. According to the Occupational Safety and Health

employer with the flexibility to develop a plan that best

Administration (OSHA), compliance with lockout/tagout

suits their particular workplace and the types of machines

procedures helps prevent an estimated 120 fatalities and

or equipment that are being used at that facility.

50,000 injuries each year. Workers injured on the job
from exposure the hazardous energy lose an average of

However, the basics of lockout/tagout procedures can
be applied to any operation. These are the basic steps:

24 workdays for recuperation.
Employees need to be trained to be sure they know, understand and follow the applicable procedures pertaining

Prepare for shutdown – This includes notifying employees who will be affected by the procedure (usually done
by a supervisor).

to lockout/tagout at their facility. The training must cover
at least the following three areas:
1. The aspects of the employer’s energy-control program.

Shut down the machine – This might involve reviewing the specific procedure to be sure it is done correctly
and safely.

2. The elements of the energy-control program that pertain
to the employee’s duties on the job.
3. The various requirements of the OSHA standards re-

Identify all the hazardous energy sources – Electricity is
just one source. Other hazardous energy sources could be
mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical or thermal.

lated to lockout/tagout.
The OSHA standards establish requirements that employers must follow when their employees are exposed to

Isolate or neutralize all hazardous energy sources – This
includes shutting off switches, turning off valves and
other actions.

hazardous energy while servicing or maintaining equipment. Some requirements include:

Lockout the energy sources – This step is usually done
at the same time as Step 4.

•

Develop, implement and enforce an energy-control

•

Use lockout devices for equipment that can be locked

After sanitation, maintenance or any other procedure

out. Tagout devices can be used instead of lockout de-

on the machine or equipment is complete, be sure to fol-

vices if they provide adequate protection to employees.

low correct procedures to remove lockout/tagout devices.

Ensure new or overhauled equipment is capable of

•

Make sure the machine is clear of tools or people.

being locked out.

•

Replace any guards or safety devices that may have

program

•
•

Verify your lockout procedures – Make sure the machine
is completely locked out.

Develop, implement and enforce an effective tagout

been removed.

program if the machines or equipment cannot be
locked out.
•

•
•

Remove lockout/tagout devices

Use only lockout/tagout devices that are authorized

•

And return the machine to service.

for specific equipment and be sure they are durable
and substantial.
•

Establish a policy that permits only the employee who
applied the lockout/tagout device to also remove it.

•

Lockout/tagout procedures can protect workers from
injury, or even death on the job. ■

Ensure lockout/tagout devices identify the individual users.

•

Verify again that no one is in the danger zone.

Inspect energy-control procedures at least annually.

• Meat&Poultry • February 2013 • www.MeatPoultry.com

This list is to be used only as a guideline. Address specific questions to
your supervisor.
We would like to hear from you – to comment on this story or to
request reprints, contact us by e-mail at meatpoultry@sosland.com.

http://www.MeatPoultry.com

Meat&Poultry - February 2013

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