Does OSHA Require Lockout/Tagout Training?

Because of the hazards involved with a powered-down machine potentially being re-energized while it being serviced, OSHA requires lockout/tagout training for all authorized and affected employees. 

As a quick refresher, lockout/tagout is the process in which devices and identification tags are used during equipment servicing to help protect the maintenance employee from potential hazards of the machine. This accomplished by establishing a zero-energy state and using the locks and tags to maintain that state throughout servicing with the physical protection and warning they provide. 

Who Needs Lockout/Tagout Training?

According to OSHA standard 1910.147(c)(7), all authorized and affected employees must receive appropriate lockout/tagout training from their employer. 

Authorized employees perform maintenance or service on equipment. Because of their role, they are responsible for locking the machine and tagging it out. 

Affected employees operate or work near equipment that may require lockout/tagout. However, they are not responsible for maintaining or servicing the machinery. 

Training should clarify the differences between authorized and affected employees, so that all personnel understand what they are supposed to do. Each group of employees has specific responsibilities, which means they have different training needs. 

Authorized Employee Lockout/Tagout Training

Authorized employees are the ones using lockout/tagout to help protect themselves, so as a result they must understand how to implement lockout/tagout and its importance. As part of their lockout/tagout training, OSHA requires authorized employees to know what types of energy exist, where those energy types are available in the workplace, and the hazards associated with each type of energy. This gives them a solid understanding of the risks involved in servicing or maintaining equipment.

Authorized employees also must learn how to isolate each type of energy source so they can confirm it is correctly controlled. In addition, authorized employees must recognize hazardous energy sources and understand how they are labeled inside a plant so they can be prepared to work with them.

Affected Employee Lockout/Tagout Training

It is more straightforward to train affected employees. They only must understand how to recognize when a machine is locked-out and the significance of the locked-out state. Most critically, these employees must understand that they cannot interfere with any equipment once it has been locked out.

Who qualifies as an affected user can vary from one facility to another. However, in general, any employee who might reasonably pass through an area that includes a locked-out piece of equipment can benefit from lockout/tagout training, so that they understand this crucial safety procedure.

Why is Lockout/Tagout Training So Important?

OSHA started mandating lockout/tagout training as a response to the number of workplace accidents that resulted in serious injury and deaths. Since it was first implemented in 1989, there has been a noticeable decrease in workplace injuries and deaths. In fact, lockout/tagout procedures are credited with helping prevent an estimated 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries per year.