Golden Rule #4: Energy & Machinery Isolation

Only work on equipment if all energy sources have been

identified, tagged appropriately, locked with your

personal lock and tested to ensure the they are at a zero

energy state.

.

GOLDEN RULES

• Energy sources reside in various forms that must be identified and

understood for all systems. The most common sources include:

− Compressed gasses

− Pressurized fluids

− Mechanical devices not at rest (gravity driven or residual energy)

− Stored mechanical forces

− Electrical potential

• Mechanisms must be present and clearly identified to:

− isolate and

− de-energize

…… any source of energy within a system.

• Once a system is isolated and de-energized, there must be a safe

means of testing for complete de-energizing prior to work proceeding.

Golden Rule #4 – Energy & Machinery Isolation

Only work on equipment if all energy sources have been identified, tagged appropriately,

locked with your personal lock and tested to ensure the they are at a zero energy state.

Types of Energy Sources

Isolation and

De-energizing

Testing for Residual Energy

Clear identification is achieved through field labels that cross reference to system design drawings.

GOLDEN RULES

• To perform an isolation the following requirements are necessary:

− Formal identification of energy sources and isolation points.

− Procedure for isolation.

− Permit process to proceed with isolation.

− Tagging for identification of isolation points.

− Locking devices at isolation points.

− Installation with personal locks to protect employees while

performing work on the system.

• Isolation of energy is to be performed at the source of the energy. This

requirement is to be reflected in the isolation procedure.

• Once work is complete all locks are to be removed by employees

working on the system.

• A formal process is required when re-energizing a system that includes

a requirement to communicate with area employees.

Golden Rule #4 – Energy & Machinery Isolation

Only work on equipment if all energy sources have been identified, tagged appropriately,

locked with your personal lock and tested to ensure the they are at a zero energy state.

Requirements for Isolation

Isolation at the Source

Work Completion

GOLDEN RULES

The following key questions are suggested for management who must

provide the supporting systems for risk control for achieving zero energy state

for working on equipment.

Has a formal process been established by the organization to identify and

define controls to manage system energy sources?

Is there a requirement to provide and maintain process diagrams for ready

identification of process isolation points.

Have formal programs been established to ensure the required competence

of those who will be isolating / de-energizing systems / working on systems?

Have formal procedures been developed to manage the safe isolation and de-

energizing of systems?

Is there a formal process in place to review and approve system isolation, de-

energizing, and re-energizing.

Five Key Questions for Management

Only work on equipment if all energy sources have been identified, tagged appropriately,

locked with your personal lock and tested to ensure the they are at a zero energy state

Golden Rule #4 – Energy & Machinery Isolation

GOLDEN RULES

The following key questions are suggested for a supervisor who may have to

assign critical task work.

Do I understand the system isolation and de-energizing requirements that are

required to protect the people performing the work?

Have I ensured that all energy sources on isolated systems have been

identified, a current procedure has been defined and that this information has

been shared with the persons doing the work?

Have I checked that the persons doing the work are trained, qualified and

able to initiate work on isolated systems?

Have I made sure that isolated systems have been tested to ensure that are

in a state of zero energy and that protective locks and tags are in place prior

to work being performed on isolated systems?

Have I ensured that all necessary work permits have been completed before

the work proceeds?

Five Key Questions for Supervisors

Only work on equipment if all energy sources have been identified, tagged appropriately,

locked with your personal lock and tested to ensure the they are at a zero energy state

Golden Rule #4 – Energy & Machinery Isolation

GOLDEN RULES

The following key questions are suggested for an employee who may have to

perform work on isolated systems.

Do I know the risks associated with executing the work on isolated systems?

Have controls to manage risks of working on isolated systems have been

defined and shared with me?

Have I checked the system energy isolation points and appropriately placed

personal locks, and properly completed tags, on the isolation devices before

the work starts?

Have I performed a final test on the section of the system where I am working

to ensure there is no residual energy?

Do I have authorization to proceed with the work on the isolated system?

(Work Permit)

Five Key Questions for

Employees

Only work on equipment if all energy sources have been identified, tagged appropriately,

locked with your personal lock and tested to ensure the they are at a zero energy state

Golden Rule #4 – Energy & Machinery Isolation