Al-Osais Contracting

‫شركة العسيس للمقاولتا‬

Company ‫قسم الطاقة‬
Power Division
CONSTRUCTION OF 132/13.8kV SUBSTATION PROCEDURE OF BREAKING LOCK

CONSTRUCTION OF 132/13.8kV
SUBSTATION

SAUDI ELECTRICITY COMPANY

AL Osais Contracting Company

Power Division

Contract # 4400008034

Document No.: PR37/PURPOSES OF BREAKING LOCK /01,

Client : SEC/National Grid-SA Rev.01

PROCEDURE OF BREAKING LOCK

Rev.01

0 26/08/19 Tayib Jabbar Attaf Jabber Abdul Aziz Saleh Milhem

REV
DATE Prepared by Reviewed by Approved by
.

SUMMARY

1.PURPOSE

2. SCENARIO

3.OSHA REGULATION

4.DO:

5.DON’T:

6.EMERGENCY LOCK AND TAG REMOVAL PROCEDURE

1. PURPOSE:

Implementing these guidelines ensure that employees are safe and are up-to-date and
what steps are being taken when these situations arise.

2. Scenario:

Imagine safety Engineer thinks that he has a good lockout/tag out procedures in place
when the maintenance supervisor takes an unexpected absence from the duties. The
Supervisor walks onto the floor and realizes one of the equipment, Panel, and breaker
distribution box isn’t running. Looking at the main electrical disconnect, he finds the unit
has been locked out by maintenance supervisor.

The department is already behind schedule and this, equipment, breaker, distribution
box and v needs to be up & running now.

What next?

Does the engineer remove the lock himself?

Does he have no choice but to leave it until the employee returns?

This will explain the dos and don’ts when it comes to removing another employee’s
lockout lock, who can cut off a lock, and how to handle this type of situation.

3. OSHA REGULATION:

According to OSHA’s lockout/tag out regulation, 1910.147, “Each lockout or tag out
device shall be removed/broken from each energy-isolating device by the employee
who applied the device.” The exception to this rule follows as, “When the authorized
employee who applied the lockout or tag out device is not available to remove/break it,
that device may be removed under the direction of the employer, provided that specific
procedure for such removal/broken have been developed, documented, and
incorporated into the employer’s program.”

In other words, under proper authorization of the employer, a supervisor may remove
an employee’s lockout lock. This exception is only allowed under the circumstances that
the employee who placed the lock is unavailable and it is absolutely necessary that the
unit be returned to normal operation. When running into this situation, there are simple
steps to be taken to ensure it is properly handled.

4. DO:

The employer must verify that the authorized employee who originally placed the
lockout device is nowhere in the work premises.

The employer must make all reasonable efforts to contact the authorized employee to
inform them that their lockout device will be removed/broken

The employer must inform the authorized employee that their lockout has been r
removed/broken before they resume work.
 The employer or supervisor should ensure the machine is in working condition &
capable of being turned back on, that all components and guarding are properly
reinstalled from servicing, and no tools have been left in the area.

Provide a form to document what steps are being taken during the entire process, and
to keep track of which responsibilities are being passed on to which employee.

5. DON’T:

Removing/breaking the lock without notifying anyone in the work premises. This is very
dangerous and is a direct violation of set standards (OSHA recommended not to
remove/break lock without notifying the actual employee who put the lock).

Have the lock removed by a supervisor after verifying the authorized employee who
placed the lock is not at the work area.

Do note that only supervisors or authorized personnel are allowed to perform removal
of locks and lockout devices. It must also be understood that the company needs a
proper lockout/tag out program in place and a policy regarding this situation and steps
needed to be taken. After proper steps have been taken to remove the lockout device,
standard protocol for re energization of the equipment must be performed.
Implementing these guidelines ensure that employees are safe and are up-to-date of
what steps are being taken when these situations arise.

6. EMERGENCY LOCK AND TAG BREAKING PROCEDURE:

The following procedure will be used when a lock is broken:

1. If the employee is on the jobsite, the employee shall be located and shall
remove the lock

2. If it is verified that the employee has left the jobsite, then the employee shall be
called in to remove the lock

3. If the employee cannot be located, the employee’s Superintendent shall:

a. Check the work area to ensure that the job the employee was working on is
complete
b. Warn other employees in the area that the equipment involved will be put
into operation
c. Secure the area to prevent entry of employees before starting equipment
d. Check for the spare key (if not available)
e. Obtain the work permit
f. Notify the other crew (if required )
g. Follow the work permit instruction to secure the concern area or equipment
h. Arrange necessary tools for cutting / Breaking the lock
i. Break / cut the lock
j. Do required work in that specific area
k. Re lock the concern equipment
l. Notify to all department about new modification
m. Close the work permit