Equipment Isolation and Tag Out

2 Withdrawal of equipment from service

The principal and/or their delegate must ensure equipment identified as being unsafe is withdrawn from service as detailed below.

2.1 Isolation of static and portable non-electrical equipment

The principal and/or their delegate must ensure that non-electrical equipment identified as being unsafe is isolated from energy sources, for example by using some of the following methods:

• installing mechanical stops or retaining pins capable of being padlocked
• physically blocking the system against movement
• bleeding residual gases, liquids and vapours from systems
• relieving pressure for hydraulic or pneumatic systems
• pressure, hydraulic or pneumatic systems must be relieved of pressure if appropriate, or parts be blocked that could move due to loss of pressure

2.2 Isolation of static and portable electrical equipment

The principal and/or their delegate must ensure that electrical equipment identified as being unsafe is isolated from energy sources, for example by using some of the following methods:

• removal of fuses
• isolation of the drive motor at the source
• isolation of the control panel
• complete removal of power cable/plug from plant and equipment
• locking out the power supply board

2.3 Isolation is not practicable

There may be equipment that can only be cleaned, maintained, repaired or adjusted while energised (i.e. still connected to power) or while there are moving components.

The principal and/or their delegate must ensure that for equipment that can only be cleaned or adjusted while energised:

• a risk assessment should be completed using the Risk Assessment Template or equivalent
• a Safe Work Procedure (SWP), using the Safe Work Procedure Template, should also be developed
• that the SWP is displayed adjacent to the static item of equipment
• that relevant employee(s) are trained in the safe operation of the equipment

2.4 Tag Out

The principal and/or their delegate must ensure that for equipment that has been isolated, a tag indicating that the item is 'Out of Service' should then be placed onto all on / off switches and power leads (refer to Chapter 1).

The 'Out of Service' tag must be left on faulty items until the fault has been rectified or the tag is replaced with a ‘Danger — Do Not Operate’ tag and/or lock by a competent person authorised to rectify the fault. The tag is to indicate:

• the reason for the equipment being isolated
• who the tag was completed by
• the date it was completed

The school should have ‘Out of Service’ and ‘Danger Do Not Operate’ tags available in an accessible location, when required.

Note: Refer to Chapter 1 for example tags.

2.5 Lock Out

The principal and/or their delegate must ensure that out of service equipment is locked out to prevent unauthorised use. Lock out may also be undertaken by competent persons authorised to service, maintain or repair plant or equipment.

Lock out can be achieved by locking out at energy isolation points, preferably by the use of keyed devices such as padlocks or isolation clasps. Where these are not available, or it is not possible to isolate with a key lock, the equipment must be relocated to a secure locked location until it can be removed or repaired.