Group Lockout/Tagout

DOE-STD-1030-96

4.5.3

Group Lockout/Tagout

When maintenance is performed by a crew, craft, department, or other group, it

is often advantageous to use a "group" lockout/tagout procedure. Such a

procedure must afford personnel a level of protection equivalent to that provided

by installation of personal lockout/tagout devices. The centrally controlled

lockout/tagout described in this Guide meets that requirement when the

following actions are performed:

An authorized person (a member of the operations organization in centrally

controlled facilities) locks and tags each isolation device.

The keys from all isolation device locks are placed inside a lockable box.

This box is then also locked and tagged.

Each individual or work group representative requiring protection adds an

individual lock and tag to the lock box.

No keys to isolation devices can be obtained until all individuals and work

groups have released the lockout/tagout and removed their locks and tags from

the lock box.

After all individuals and work group representatives have removed their

locks and tags from the lock box, the authorized person (or a person

authorized by the responsible supervisor or manager in centrally controlled

facilities) may remove the final lock and tag from the lock box. This makes

the keys available for removing the remainder of the lockout/tagout.

4.6 Temporary or Partial Removal

As a general rule, temporary or partial removal of a lockout/tagout is discouraged, except

when required as part of an approved work package, e.g., to stroke a motor-operated valve,

to check phase rotation on a motor, or to test equipment functionality. It is important that a

temporary or partial removal of a lockout/tagout is not regarded as an opportunity to take

shortcuts. The same series of checks and precautions is required whether one tag is being

removed or the entire lockout/tagout. All lockout/tagout holders must release the lockout/-

tagout before any tags are removed or any changes are made in the isolation boundaries.