Page 153 - FASTSIGN York - Health and Safety Sign Guide

Current Regulations
UK and Ireland Health and Safety legislation is established on a
framework that is not wholly prescriptive, being goal setting in Lockout Tagout
nature, emphasising self-regulation, risk assessment and workforce
involvement in the control of health and safety. As pioneered by US
legislation and subsequent EU legislation.
The Importance of Tagging
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places general duties on
employers to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety Tags are an e ective way of communicating the status of
and welfare at work of their employees, including a requirement to equipment which is undergoing maintenance. Appropriate
provide and maintain safe plant and equipment. tags should be provided by the employer and be t for
purpose.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
require an employer to carry out a risk assessment of activities, introduce Tags should be:
safe systems of work, coordinate activities and provide training. Isolation • Durable and hardwearing.
requirements are highlighted under speci c UK and Ireland regulations. • Resistant to moisture, oils and other contaminants.
• Easy to read and understand.
In the UK, the following regulations govern the control of hazardous • Identify the person who installed it.
energy (CHE): BS7671:2008(2011) “Requirements for Electrical • Be attached using a method which is secure and that
Installations. IET Wiring Regulations.” 17th Edition: cannot be easily released.
537.2.2.4: Provision shall be made for securing o -load isolating
devices against inadvertent or unauthorised opening. Wherever possible Tags should be used alongside the
537.3.1.2: Suitable means shall be provided to prevent electrical appropriate Lockout device. However if
powered equipment becoming unintentionally reactivated. there is no other physical alternative of
isolation then Tags may be used alone.
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 Regulation 19
(1): Every employer shall ensure that where appropriate work equipment In some organisations authorised
is provided with suitable means to isolate it from all its sources of energy. personnel have their
photo displayed on their
In Ireland, the legislation in force is: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work tags for speed and ease of
Regulations 2007. All work equipment is tted with clearly identi able identification. This is particularly
means to isolate it from all its energy sources, and the reconnecting helpful in larger organisations
of the work equipment to its energy sources poses no risk to the with many employees or when
employees concerned. using sub-contractors.

EU CEE89/655 “Council Directive 89/655/EEC of 30 November 1989 Ask for more information
concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the use on customisable Tags for
of work equipment by workers at work”. your workplace.
Article 19: The employer is committed to guarantee the safety and
protection of employees and to take necessary measures to reduce risks
to the minimum possible. Permits To Work
Article 46: The employer must ensure that all safety procedures are In many cases a Permit To Work will be required before service
strictly implemented and regularly reviewed by appropriate means, or maintenance will be authorised to proceed.
employers must use all necessary tools to carry out maintenance
they are responsible for and to aid them in the case of accident This written document will have its own set of instructions
or emergency. which need to be followed. It is good practice to have this
Article 49: When carrying out isolated maintenance, the equipment permit to hand when performing maintenance.
must be clearly labelled; Isolation of equipment from all possible electrical
energy sources; lock-out of devices in the ‘o ’ position; veri cation Keep these documents clean and protected by using an
of isolation of all energy sources close to the maintenance area. appropriate transparent wallet or holder to store after use
for reference.
The USA OSHA 1910.147 “The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/
Tagout), Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations”.
1910.147 (c)(5)(ii)(B): Standardised. Lockout and Tagout devices shall
be standardised within the facility in at least one of the following criteria:
colour; shape; or size; and additionally, in the case of Tagout devices,
print and format shall be standardised.
1910.147 (c)(5)(ii)(C): Devices must be capable of withstanding the
environment to which they are exposed for the maximum time
of exposure expected.
1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(C)(1): Lockout devices shall be substantial enough to
prevent removal without the use of excessive force or unusual techniques,
such as with the use of bolt cutters or other metal cutting tools.
1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(C)(2): Tagout devices, including their means
of attachment, shall be substantial enough to prevent inadvertent
or accidental removal. See our Permit To Work range on page 101.
1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(C)(2): Lockout devices and Tagout devices shall
indicate the identity of the employee applying the device(s). 153