Hazardous Energy Control Procedures, or HECP, are also called Lockout Procedures or, in the US, Lockout/Tagout. HECP is one of the administrative control measures falling in the fourth level of the Risk Reduction Hierarchy, after Elimination/Substitution, Engineering Controls and Information for Use.
Eliminating energy-related hazards by blocking or isolating the energy source is one of the most basic means of risk reduction for personnel involved in maintaining and servicing equipment.
How can we help you with lockout/tagout?
We can provide you with everything from an audit of an existing lockout policy or procedure to full turn-key development of a hazardous energy control policy and procedure for specific machines.
Regulations and Standards
Canada
In Canada, most Provinces and Territories have legislation requiring that hazards be “blocked” or prevented from moving by some effective means when workers are required to enter the danger zone. Until recently, there was no clear guidance on how this should be done, and many employers referenced the US OSHA regulations and ANSI standards.
In 2005, CSA published CSA Z460, Control of Hazardous Energy — Lockout and Other Methods. This standard provides the guidance that employers and machine builders require on lockout. Note that using tags alone (tagout) is not accepted in Canada, as it does not provide adequate protection. Tags must be used when applying a lockout device to secure the means of isolation.
USA
In the USA, OSHA has long published requirements for Lockout/Tagout, 29 CFR 1910.147. This standard was supplemented by ANSI when they published ANSI Z244.1, Control of Hazardous Energy — Lockout/Tagout and Alternative Methods.
EU
The EU equivalent to CSA Z460 0r ANSI Z244.1 is EN ISO 14118, Safety of machinery — Prevention of unexpected start-up. This standard has the same scope and technical content as ISO 14118 (see below) and includes the regulatory annexes required for harmonization with the Machinery Directive.
It’s also worth noting that the control system’s use for preventing unexpected machinery start-up is anticipated under this standard. Section 6 of the standard deals specifically with this aspect. This is generally not permitted under North American standards.
International
ISO 14118, Safety of machinery — Prevention of unexpected start-up, is the international standard for hazardous energy control. It also goes beyond the Canadian and US standards to deal with failures in the control systems of machinery. These requirements may extend to operating modes or conditions beyond what is normally considered to be the bounds of the usual LOTO or HECP.
This standard also anticipates the use of the control system for the prevention of unexpected start-up, a condition which is generally not permitted under the North American standards.