When it comes to working with dangerous machinery and equipment, safety should always be the top priority. Lockout/tagout procedures are an important method for protecting workers from accidents caused by hazardous energy that can be released during maintenance, repair, or installation of equipment.
LOCKOUT/TAGOUT DEFINITION
What are lockout/tagout procedures?
Lockout/Tagout is a safety procedure used in industrial and maintenance settings to ensure the safe isolation of energy sources during maintenance, repair, or servicing of equipment or machinery. The primary goal of lockout/tagout is to prevent the unexpected startup of machinery or equipment, which could pose a serious risk to the safety of workers performing maintenance tasks.
What are the possible hazards of Lockout/Tagout?
While Lockout/Tagout Safety procedures are designed to protect workers from hazards, there are still possible hazards that workers may encounter. These hazards include:
- Electrical hazards: Electrical hazards can occur when workers fail to properly isolate energy sources. This can result in electric shock, burns, or electrocution.
- Mechanical hazards: Mechanical hazards can occur when machinery or equipment is not properly isolated. This can result in crushing, cutting, or amputation injuries.
- Thermal hazards: Thermal hazards can occur when workers are exposed to high temperatures or extreme cold during maintenance or servicing activities.
- Chemical hazards: Chemical hazards can occur when workers are exposed to hazardous chemicals during maintenance or servicing activities.
- Radiation hazards: Radiation hazards can occur when workers are exposed to radiation from machinery or equipment during maintenance or servicing activities.
- Fall hazards: Fall hazards can occur when workers are working at heights and fall from ladders, scaffolds, or platforms.
Which are the main safety practices?
There are several main practices of Lockout/Tagout Safety that workers must follow to ensure their safety. These practices include:
- Identifying all energy sources: Before maintenance or servicing activities begin, workers must identify all energy sources that may cause injury or death.
- Isolating energy sources: Workers must isolate energy sources by turning off and disconnecting machines or equipment from their energy sources.
- Locking and tagging machines or equipment: After isolating energy sources, workers must lock and tag machines or equipment to prevent accidental startup.
- Releasing stored energy: Workers must release stored energy from machines or equipment before starting maintenance or servicing activities.
- Verifying energy isolation: Workers must verify that energy sources have been properly isolated before starting maintenance or servicing activities.
What is the purpose of a lockout/tag out program?
The purpose of a lockout/tag out program is to control hazardous energy. A lockout program should:
- Identify the types of:
- Hazardous energy in the workplace
- Energy-isolating devices
- De-energizing devices
- Guide the selection and maintenance of protective devices, hardware, and personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Assign duties and responsibilities
- Describe lockout procedures for all machines, equipment, and processes
- Determine shutdown, de-energizing, energizing, and start-up sequences
- Describe training requirements for authorized and affected workers
- Be audited for effectiveness
An effective lockout/tag out program will help prevent:
- Contact with a hazard while performing tasks that require the removal, by-passing, or deactivation of safeguarding devices.
- The unintended release of hazardous energy (including stored energy).
- The unintended start-up or motion of machinery, equipment, or processes.
LOCKOUT/TAGOUT LEGISLATION
Lockout/Tagout Safety is a critical aspect of worker safety in Canada. To ensure that workers are protected from the hazards of machinery and equipment, several federal, provincial, and territorial laws have been put in place.
What is federal legislation?
The federal legislation that applies to lockout/tagout safety is the Canada Labour Code Part II. This legislation establishes the requirements for safe work practices and procedures, including those related to lockout/tagout safety (Source: Government of Canada, Canada Labour Code Part II, URL: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/l-2/).
Under the Canada Labour Code Part II, employers are required to establish and maintain procedures for the control of hazardous energy, including lockout/tagout procedures. These procedures must be designed to protect workers from injury or illness resulting from the release of hazardous energy during maintenance, repair, or installation of equipment.
The Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (COHSR) set out specific requirements for lockout/tagout safety procedures, including the use of lockout devices and tags, verification of the effectiveness of lockout/tagout procedures, and training for workers involved in lockout/tagout activities (Source: Government of Canada, Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, URL: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-86-304/index.html). Part XIII, outlines the requirements for lockout/tagout safety in mining operations.
This legislation requires mine operators to develop and implement a written lockout/tagout procedure that meets specific requirements, including the identification of energy sources, the selection of appropriate lockout/tagout devices, and the training of workers involved in lockout/tagout activities.
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) has developed several standards related to lockout/tagout safety in the workplace. These standards provide guidelines and best practices for controlling hazardous energy and preventing accidents related to machinery and equipment maintenance.
Here are some examples of CSA standards related to lockout/tagout safety:
Employers and workers can use these standards to develop and implement effective lockout/tagout procedures and ensure compliance with applicable regulations. It is important to regularly review and update lockout/tagout procedures to ensure they remain effective and up-to-date with changing equipment and processes.
What is provincial and territorial legislation?
In addition to federal legislation, Canadian provinces and territories have their own occupational health and safety legislation that includes requirements for lockout/tagout safety. These laws may vary in their specific requirements and application, so it is important for employers and workers to be aware of the regulations in their jurisdiction.
Here are some examples of provincial and territorial lockout/tagout legislation:
Ontario: The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) requires employers to establish procedures for the control of hazardous energy, including lockout/tagout procedures. Employers must also provide training to workers on these procedures. (Source: Ontario Ministry of Labour, Occupational Health and Safety Act, URL: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90o01)
Alberta: The Occupational Health and Safety Code includes specific requirements for lockout/tagout safety procedures, including the use of lockout devices and tags, verification of the effectiveness of lockout/tagout procedures, and training for workers involved in lockout/tagout activities. (Source: Government of Alberta, URL: https://www.alberta.ca/ohs-act-regulation-code)
British Columbia: The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation requires employers to establish procedures for the control of hazardous energy, including lockout/tagout procedures. Employers must also provide training to workers on these procedures.
Quebec: The Regulation respecting occupational health and safety requires employers to establish and maintain procedures for the control of hazardous energy, including lockout/tagout procedures. Employers must also provide training to workers on these procedures. (Source: Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail)
It is important for employers and workers to be aware of the specific requirements in their jurisdiction and to ensure compliance with all applicable legislation. Failing to comply with lockout/tagout safety requirements can result in serious injuries or fatalities, as well as significant fines and penalties.
LOCKOUT/TAGOUT SAFETY
What is Lockout/Tagout Safety?
Lockout/Tagout Safety is the process of teaching workers about the hazards of hazardous energy sources and the procedures for controlling them during maintenance or servicing activities. The training typically covers the identification of hazardous energy sources, the development of written procedures for Lockout/Tagout Safety, the use of lockout and tagout devices, and the role of the competent person in overseeing the program.
Who is responsible for Lockout/Tagout training?
In Canada, employers are required by law to ensure a safe work environment for their employees. (Source: Justice Laws, Government of Canada, Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (SOR/86-304), URL: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-86-304/index.html) As such, they are also responsible for providing and implementing adequate Lockout/Tagout Safety.
Employees must participate in the training program and apply the strategies they have learned to maintain their safety in the workplace. Furthermore, many potential employees in specific industries independently acquire and complete the program to ensure better hiring odds.
Who needs Lockout/Tagout Safety?
Lockout/Tagout Safety is required for workers who are exposed to the hazards of hazardous energy sources during maintenance or servicing activities. Workers in the following industries may benefit from Lockout/Tagout Safety:
- Manufacturing: Workers who operate or maintain machinery and equipment in manufacturing facilities may be exposed to hazardous energy sources, such as electricity, hydraulic pressure, or compressed air.
- Construction: Workers in the construction industry may be exposed to hazardous energy sources when installing, repairing, or servicing heavy equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, or excavators.
- Transportation: Workers in the transportation industry may be exposed to hazardous energy sources when working on engines, transmissions, or other mechanical components of vehicles.
- Mining: Workers in the mining industry may be exposed to hazardous energy sources when working on mining equipment, such as conveyor belts, crushers, or drills.
Can you do Lockout/Tagout Safety online?
This course requires only theoretical training and evaluation, making it suitable for both classroom and online formats. Online training adheres to the same standards as classroom training, ensuring that it is recognized and accepted. In fact, online training can be more convenient and efficient, as it eliminates the need for in-person attendance and allows for flexible scheduling.
Moreover, classroom trainings often have certain requirements imposed by the Ministry of Labour, such as a minimum duration of 8 hours, which may not always be necessary for the content being covered. Online training can be more efficient in this regard, as a well-designed 2-hour course can cover all the necessary material effectively.
Additionally, online training can be a more cost-effective option for employers compared to organizing in-person classroom sessions.
However, keep in mind that employers are responsible for selecting the appropriate level of training for their workplace, so it’s essential to check with your employer to ensure they accept online training for this purpose.
Where can you purchase Lockout/Tagout Safety online training?
In today’s fast-paced society, online courses have become the cheapest and most convenient solution to get your Safety done. There are many methods and providers of Ground Disturbance Safety. With any training, it is essential to select a high-quality education provider and one that will provide the most value (best information retention in employees) for the time and money.
Ensuring your program materials are always up to date is also extremely important as the amount of health and safety regulations and enforcement is steadily increasing and constantly updating.
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LOCKOUT/TAGOUT SAFETY CERTIFICATE
What do you need to learn?
To obtain a Lockout/Tagout Safety certificate in Canada, workers must complete a training program that covers the following topics:
How long is the certificate valid?
Workers who require a certificate in Lockout/Tagout are advised to renew it every 3 years. The information contained in this program can reduce the risk of serious injury due to energy discharge, which is why it is important that, as someone who frequently works with or around machinery, you remain up to date with the latest safety protocols.
How will I receive my training certificate with eSafetyFirst?
The certificate will be automatically available for printing once you complete the course and pass the quiz with a score of 80% or higher.
All our courses will come with a PDF certificate at the end of the program.
This PDF file will have two pages: a standard certificate and a wallet-size training record.
The employer should store certificates, while the employee should carry their wallet cards at all times during work.
Students who prefer to receive wallet cards in a physical format can request and purchase a physical wallet card from eSafetyFirst. This optional item is not included in the course price and will cost an additional $10 for printing and shipping.
If you do not have the time to make your laminated wallet card, you may find it rather convenient to order this card directly from us.
How can I find my certificate if I lost it?
In most cases, this question is addressed to us by individuals who took their training with a different company. As a private company, we can only store and access our customers’ data. Therefore, if you did your training with another company, you need to contact them to receive a copy of your certificate.
If you are a customer of eSafetyFirst.com, then all you have to do is to Login to your account, and you can, at any time, download a copy of the certificate you received from us.
CONCLUSION
Lockout/Tagout Safety is a critical component of workplace safety in Canada. It is essential for protecting workers from hazardous energy and ensuring that machinery and equipment are properly maintained. Effective lockout/tagout procedures can prevent accidents, injuries, and fatalities, and ensure compliance with federal and provincial regulations. Employers must regularly review and update lockout/tagout procedures to ensure they remain effective and up-to-date with changing equipment and processes. By prioritizing Lockout/Tagout Safety, we can ensure that Canadian workers are protected from hazardous energy and workplace accidents, and can return home