Lockout/Tagout Responsibilities

Environmental, Health and Safety

EHS is responsible for developing, implementing, and administering the Lockout/Tagout Program. This involves:

• Training all "Authorized Persons" and "Affected Persons" in the associated hazards, general safe work practices, and program requirements.
• Maintaining centralized records of training, inspection data, and reports.
• Providing technical assistance to university personnel.
• EHS will conduct an annual review of each department (or work group) that conducts work within the scope of this manual. The annual review will include the items listed on the Lockout Annual Review procedure/form. EHS will retain information regarding a Lockout Annual Review for five (5) years.

Departments

Departments are expected to maintain a safe and healthy living, learning, and working environment for faculty, staff, students, and visitors to our campus. Departments should designate responsible persons to coordinate the requirements of this program with employees and ensure that adequate lockout devices are provided and used. Departments must ensure that all personnel performing lockout/tagout have attended necessary training and are familiar with the requirements of this program and related programs, policies, and procedures.

Employees

Employees are expected to attend EHS Lockout/Tagout Authorized Person training and to use work practices developed in accordance with this manual to prevent injuries that could result from the unexpected start-up of equipment or the release of stored energy. Refresher training is required every five years, or due to incident, observation of unsafe work practices, update of requirements, or changes to operating guidelines.

Contractors

Contractors must comply with all local, state, and federal safety requirements, and assure that all of their employees performing work on Virginia Tech properties have been suitably trained. If university employees will be present on the Contractor's worksite, and employees of either Virginia Tech and/or the Contractor will be performing work that requires the use of lockout/tagout devices, the work activities must be performed in accordance with Virginia Tech's Contractor Safety Program.