Hi Lauren, You didn't provide sufficient information regarding the application so I can't say much about tagout.
As for lockout: 29 CFR 1910.147 The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) pretty clearly rules out performing lockout by locking a cover. Lockout is defined as "The placement of a lockout device on an energy isolating device, in accordance with an established procedure, ensuring that the energy isolating device and the equipment being controlled cannot be operated until the lockout device is removed." A lockout device is defined as A device that utilizes a positive means such as a lock, either key or combination type, to hold an energy isolating device in the safe position and prevent the energizing of a machine or equipment. A breaker panel cover is not a lockout device applied to an energy isolating device. It does not "hold the energy isolating device in the safe position". Under certain circumstances I can see where locking the cover might provide "equivalent protection" as required for a tagout approach. Under other circumstances (remote closing, lockout locks not individually assigned) it might be inviting an accidental electrocution or startup. For this reason, the method you propose is installation specific. Additionally, I fail to see the need for such a method, as since 1990 it is required that "whenever replacement or major repair, renovation or modification of a machine or equipment is performed, and whenever new machines or equipment are installed, energy isolating devices for such machine or equipment shall be designed to accept a lockout device". Regards, Matthew Meehan PS Gruss an FP Original Message processed by Tobit InfoCenter Subject: Breaker panel lockout-tagout (18-Sep-2002 19:29) From: lcr...@tuvam.com To: m...@huber-online.com Group, Is anyone aware of an authoritative position on the acceptability (or not) of applying a lock to a breaker panel cover (and so affecting access to other, unrelated, breakers behind the same cove) to achieve OSHA compliant Lockout/Tagout rather than applying the lock to breaker directly? -Lauren Crane TUV America
