If equipment starts up unexpectedly while being serviced or having maintenance work done, there could be detrimental results causing injury or even death. Affected and authorized employees both play a role in the control of this energy, however, their roles are not the same. Below is a guideline for identifying the differences.
Affected Employees:
- May work around or on the machine or equipment that requires the service or maintenance.
- Do not do the service or maintenance and do not lock or tag out the energy source.
- Are trained in the purpose and use of de-energizing, locking and tagging equipment.
- May not remove locks and tags.
- Must be notified when equipment in their area is being locked or tagged for service or maintenance.
- Must be notified when locks and tags are removed.
- Can become an authorized employee when duties change to include servicing or maintenance of equipment as outlined for authorized employees.
Authorized Employees:
- The employee that de-energizes equipment, applies, locks, tags and attempts to restart equipment.
- Have training specifically on the types of equipment and energy sources that need to be locked and tagged and how to do so safely.
- May remove their locks and tags.
- Will only remove locks and tags that they placed on the equipment. They cannot remove locks or tags of other authorized employees.
All affected and authorized employees should be identified and trained specific to their role. Retraining should be done whenever there is a change to processes, job assignments, machines, equipment or energy sources. Procedures on controlling energy must be inspected periodically by authorized employees not specifically involved with the service or maintenance of the equipment the inspection is being done for.
