What protective materials and hardware must be provided by the employer for isolating, securing or blocking machines or equipment from their energy sources?

• Locks, tags, chains, wedges, key blocks, adapter pins, self-locking fasteners, or other hardware [29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(i)].

What are the requirements for the lockout and tagout devices?

• Must be durable, so that they are capable of withstanding the environment to which they are exposed for the maximum period of time that exposure is expected [29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(A)(1)].

• Must be singularly identified [29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)].

• Must be the only devices used for controlling energy [29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)].

• Must not be used for other purposes [29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)].

• Must be standardized within the facility in at least one of the following criteria: color, shape, or size. Additionally, tagout devices must be standardized as to print and format [29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(B)].

• Must be identifiable, in that it indicates the identity of the employee applying the devices [29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(D)].

In addition to the above, what other hardware requirements are specific to lockout?

• Must 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 [29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(C)(1)].

In addition to the above, what other hardware requirements are specific to tagout?

• Must be constructed and printed so that exposure to weather conditions or wet and damp locations will not cause the tag to deteriorate or the message on the tag to become illegible [29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(A)(2)].

• Must not deteriorate when used in corrosive environments such as areas where acid and alkali chemicals are handled and stored [29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(A)(3)].

• Must be standardized in print and format [29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(B)].

• Must be substantial to prevent inadvertent or accidental removal [29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(C)(2)].

• Must have an attachment means of a non-reusable type, attachable by hand, self-locking, and non-releasable with a minimum unlocking strength of no less than 50 pounds and having the general design and basic characteristics of being at least equivalent to a one-piece all-environment-tolerant nylon cable tie [29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(C)(2)]

• Must warn against hazardous conditions if the machine or equipment is energized [29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(iii)].

• Must include a legend such as: Do Not Start, Do Not Open, Do Not Close, Do Not Energize, Do Not Operate [29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(iii)].