Coba CMMS | Hotel Maintenance Software

Definition:

Lock out/Tag out is the OSHA-created method for Control of Hazardous Energy. It is a procedure that is necessary to disable machinery or equipment in order to prevent the release of hazardous energy while employees perform maintenance activities. It requires that hazardous power sources be “isolated and rendered inoperative” before any repair procedure is started. The “Lock out” is the practice of locking the device or the power source with the hasp, and placing it in such a position that no hazardous power sources can be turned on. The “Tag out” is the practice of attaching a tag to the locked device indicating the person servicing the equipment and that the equipment should not be turned on.

Lock out/Tag out Rule::

Only the person who placed the lock out/tag out on the machine or circuit breaker is allowed to remove the lock out/tag out.

Hazardous Energy:

Energy sources including electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal or other sources in machines and equipment that can be hazardous to workers. During the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment, the unexpected startup or release of stored energy could cause injury to employees.

Potential Exposures:

When performing maintenance on water heaters, washers and dryers, elevators, air handler units or any other piece of machinery that has electrical or mechanical power.

Prevention:

Lock out/Tag out boxes should be purchased and mounted in the following areas:
- Electrical Rooms
- Mechanical Rooms
- House Laundry Room
- Elevator Equipment Room
- Maintenance Shop
Before performing service on any piece of equipment, you must:
- Locate the circuit breaker for the machine you are performing service on and flip it to the OFF position.
- Turn the power off on the machine that is to be serviced.
- Place the Lock Out on the circuit breaker or electrical panel door.
- Make sure YOUR name is on the Tag out attached to the Lock Out.
- Verify that all hazardous energy is contained.
When the service is complete:
- Ensure that all wires are connected properly
- Ensure that the machine is properly re-assembled and all panels are closed
- Remove the lock out/tag out from the machine or circuit breaker
- Return the circuit to the ON position
- Return the machine to the ON position
- Ensure the machine is operating correctly
- Log the use of the Lock out/Tag out on the property’s Lock out/Tag out Log

In the event of an injury due to exposure to hazardous energy:

Follow the guidelines for the incident found in the Emergency Binder.
If you feel you may have incurred an injury of any kind, report it immediately to your supervisor.
Be very clear on whether you require immediate medical attention, imminent medical attention or request additional accommodations to prevent injury in the future.
Report the incident to the Risk Management Team.
Inform the staff of the incident and make corrections to procedures or errors to ensure that this incident does recur.

June McCreight

June McCreight began her career in the hospitality industry as a housekeeper in 1996. In the years since, she has risen through the ranks, learning maintenance, front office, sales and revenue management, property management and district management, bench management and opening team management. She has trained hundreds of hoteliers and won many awards for her management successes. In 2011, June wrote and published, The Strangers in My Beds, a fictional novel based strictly on the strange events of her career in hotels. In 2014, June partnered with her father, a very accomplished software architect, and opened the business, Coba Enterprise Management, LLC with a very unique and specialized CMMS (Computer Maintenance Management System) software for hotels.

Hospitality Focus on Safety: Lock out/Tag Out