Lockout / Tagout Policy

Purpose

This document establishes Midfield Group policy for the protection of employees and contract staff working on or in the vicinity of plant, equipment or processes where start-up or release of hazardous energy could result in serious injury or death.

Scope

This policy applies to all Midfield Group employees and contract staff whilst carrying out their work tasks on Midfield Group sites. Work tasks include but are not limited to erecting, installing, constructing, repairing, adjusting, inspecting, unjamming, setting up, trouble-shooting, testing, cleaning, and dismantling plant, equipment or processes.

Employer and Employee Responsibilities

The Midfield Group is responsible for implementing and enforcing this policy.

Supervisors must ensure that the Lockout / Tag Out Procedures are understood and followed by all employees and contractors.

Employees and contract staff must follow the lockout/tagout procedures described in this policy.

Failure to comply with this policy could lead to disciplinary action or dismissal

Lockout/Tagout Procedure

Employees and contractors must do the following before beginning service or maintenance work:

1. Inform all affected employees of equipment shutdown.
2. Shut down equipment.
3. Identify all energy sources
4. Isolate all energy sources including restraining or dissipating any potential (stored) energy.
5. Lockout and tag the energy sources.
6. Verify the equipment is isolated from hazardous energy and de-energized. Where applicable, operate process / equipment controls to confirm effectiveness.

Employees and contractors must do the following when they remove lockout or tagout devices and re-energize equipment:

1. Ensure all workers are clear of the work area.
2. Where applicable, verify machine or equipment controls are off or in a neutral position, guards and protective devices are in place, tools and surplus material are removed from the work area.
3. Remove the tag and lockout device.
4. Re-energize equipment.