Symmetrical Group

Policies and Procedures

OHS&E\SAFETY PROCEDURES

SG-PR-33-03 Isolation Tagging System

• purpose

The purpose of the safety tagging system is to ensure a safe system of work for the protection of personnel and equipment.  In order to provide a safe system of work, the appropriate safety tags shall be attached to all isolation points and equipment when isolating for maintenance, inspection and testing. Equipment shall never be started whilst the relevant safety tags are in place, as serious injury or damage may result.

This isolation procedure may be used for the following energy sources:

• Electrical
• Hydraulic (ensure accumulators are also bled down)
• Pnuematic (ensure accumulators are also bled down)
• Mechanical (ensure all mechanical interlocks are tagged)

• overview

The safety tagging system is used when a Work Permit (or authority to work) is issued for maintenance of plant and equipment. After the Isolation Person authorises the placement of the relevant safety tag to each of the isolation points.

In addition isolation also includes activities that prevent entry into an area including screening, roping an area off, the placement of signs and the use of welding screens (barrier isolation).  When barrier isolation is used the blue information tag should be used to inform others of the reason for the barrier.

The following personnel are involved with the Safety Tagging System:

• Work Permit Authoriser (or person authorising the works)
• Isolation Person
• Work Permit Holder (or person conduction the works)
• Team Members

The Work Permit Holder (or person conducting the works) and Team Member remove their Personal Danger Tag(s) after the work has been completed.  The Work Permit Authoriser (or person authorising the works) then authorises the re engising of the plant or equipment.

• definitions

There are three types of safety tags:

• Personal Danger Tag
• Out of Service Tag
• The Information Tag is not a Safety Tag and should not be used as such.
• Personal Danger Tag

The Personal Danger Tag is used to protect the person named on the tag.  Personal Danger Tags are used to indicate which personnel are working on equipment and names those who could be put at risk if the equipment starts.

It is a warning to all personnel that the equipment shall not be operated until the tag has been removed by the person named on the tag.

• The Personal Danger Tag is red, black and white in colour and states “Do Not Operate”.

• Out of Service Tag

The Out of Service Tag is used in the following circumstances:

• Reporting equipment that could cause injury or damage if operated.
• Reporting unsafe portable equipment (e.g. ladders and hand tools).

• The Out of Service Tag is yellow with a black diagonal stripe colour.

• Safety tagging system

Safety Tags shall be attached to equipment and identified tagging points to ensure that it is correctly isolated and safe for maintenance personnel prior to commencing work.

• personal danger tag

Personal Danger Tags are used to indicate which personnel are working on equipment and could be put at risk if the equipment starts.

• Attaching Personal Danger Tags
• Work Permit Holder (or person conducting the works) or Team Members placing their Personal Danger Tags to isolation points in the field are to be supervised by the person authorising the work. Once the isolation is placed they shall try to start the plant or equipment to confirm it is isolated.

Work Permit Holder and Team Member(s)

• Write name, date and the Work Permit number (if applicable) on the Personal Danger Tag(s).
• Attach Personal Danger Tag(s) to the nominated isolation tagging point(s) prior to commencing work.

each person working on the equipment shall personally Attach their Personal danger TAG before work commences.

ALL PERSONNEL WORKING ON ANY ELECTRICAL DRIVEN EQUIPMENT OR ROTATING EQUIPMENT SHALL ATTACH THEIR PERSONAL DANGER TAGS AT THE POINT OF THE ELECTRICAL ISOLATION, this does not include the local control point.

tHE ELECTRICAL ISOLATIONPOINT IS NORMALLY LOCATED IN THE MOTOR CONTROL CENTRE.

• Removing Personal Danger Tags

Work Permit Holder (or person responsible for the works) and Team Member(s)

• Completes the work described on the Work Order and Work Permit, checks that the plant and equipment is left in a safe condition and the area is clean and tidy.
• Removes Personal Danger Tag at completion of work or at the end of each working day.
• Signs duplicate copy of Work Permit confirming work is completed.

Only the PERSON NAMED on a Personal danger tag is permitted to remove it.

4.1.3        Personal Danger Tag Removal - Authorisation Procedures

Personnel shall remove their own Personal Danger Tags.  If Personal Danger Tags have not been removed on the completion of work the person responsible for the equipment or process involved shall take the following steps:

STEP 1

All attempts shall be made to try and locate the person named on the tag:

• In the work area
• Elsewhere on site or
• At home.

The person named on the tag shall return to the work area and remove their Personal Danger Tag at his/her cost if this requires a return to work.

If the person named on the Personal Danger Tag cannot be located proceed to Step 2.

STEP 2

Contact the person’s Team Leader to confirm that the work has been completed.  If confirmed carry out Step 4 and 5.

If the person’s Team Leader cannot be contacted proceed to Step 3.

STEP 3

Carry out Step 4.  Check with relevant Manager for authority to remove the Personal Danger Tag(s); then carry out Step 5.

STEP 4

Check again that the person named on the tag is not in the work area and ensure that the task has been fully completed.

STEP 5

Remove the Personal Danger Tag, and ensure that a person is stationed near the task area during commissioning.

STEP 6

Return the Personal Danger Tag to the person named on the Personal Danger Tag(s) the following working day.  The relevant Manager is to be notified of the event.

• out of service tags
• Attaching an Out of Service Tag

Any person working can attach an Out of Service Tag.  While the Out of Service Tag remains in place the equipment is to remain out of service and shall not be operated.  The person attaching the Out of Service Tag:

• Completes the information on the Out of Service Tag
• Reports to the relevant authority that an Out of Service Tag has been placed on the out of service equipment to their Team Leader or Manager.
• Removing an Out of Service Tag

An Out of Service Tag may be removed when:

• It is replaced with a Personal Danger Tag.
• The equipment is in a workshop and is being repaired by a suitably qualified person.
• The equipment has been inspected by a qualified person and found to be safe for use.

Forms Relevant to this Procedure

F-S-10- Equipment Isolation Permit

Date published: 25/07/2013

* -25/07/2013 12:27:06 PM