Control of hazardous energy — Lockout and other methods

1.1 Scope

This Standard specifies requirements for controlling hazardous energy associated with potentially harmful machines, equipment, and processes (including mobile machinery and equipment - see Annex L).Where a CSA Standard or other recognized Standard exists for a specific type of machinery, equipment, or process, it should be used with this Standard to provide the most effective protection.

1.2 Purpose

The purpose of this Standard is to specify requirements and performance objectives for procedures, techniques, designs, and methods to protect personnel from injury from the inadvertent release of hazardous energy. Release of hazardous energy can include any motion, energization, start-up, or release of stored energy that, from the perspective of the person(s) at risk, is either unintended or deliberate.

Lockout is recognized as the primary method of hazardous energy control. When the tasks specified in Clause 1.3 are integral to the production process (see Clause 7.4.2), or traditional lockout prohibits completion of those tasks, other methods of control that provide effective personal protection are used. These other methods are based on risk assessment (see Clause 7.4.3).

1.3 Application

This Standard applies to, but is not limited to, activities such as: erecting, installing, constructing, repairing, adjusting, inspecting, unjamming, setting up, troubleshooting, testing, cleaning, dismantling, servicing, and maintaining machines, equipment, or processes.

Safeguarding of machines and the control of energy supply systems during normal production activities are addressed in CSA Z432, CSA Z462, and other machine- and system-specific Standards.

Special considerations for work in confined spaces are addressed in CSA Z1006.

1.4 Exclusions

This Standard does not specify safety procedures for manually operated machines or equipment where the only source of energy is the individual operator himself/herself.

1.5 Terminology

In CSA Standards, "shall" is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the standard; "should" is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; "may" is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the standard; and "can" is used to express possibility or capability.

Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material.

Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements.

Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.