Defective or damaged items are a common problem in the workplace. While you can solve these dilemmas with repairs or replacements, you can’t leave these items as is.
Today, we’ll go into the complexities of using tagout for defective or damaged items in the workplace. This subject serves as a pseudo sequel to our discussion yesterday on the importance of lockout, blockout and tagout. If you think placing a sign saying “OUT OF SERVICE” couldn’t be simpler, you better read on to know how big a step it is.
Let’s start by defining tag first. According to OSHA, tag is “a device usually made of card, pasteboard, plastic or other material used to identify a hazardous condition.”
Whenever there’s a defective or damaged item in your workplace, it’s important that you tag it with “Out of Service” until it gets replaced or repaired. This way, employees will be kept from any serious injury or illness that the item might cause. You can also tag an item until such time when the hazardous operation is completed or the identified hazard is eliminated.
One too many companies have been cited by OSHA for violations because they failed to use tags the right way. Here are some important points you must remember when tagging defective/damaged items:
- General tag criteria
All tags must contain a signal word and a major message.
- Kinds of tags
In general, these are the three kinds of tags:
- Danger tags are used only when an item poses a major hazard. Hazard qualifies as major if it is immediate and presents a threat of serious injury or death.
- Caution tags are used in situations where there’s a minor hazard. Hazard in this case is non-immediate and considered potential.
- Warning tags – may be used in situations with a hazard level between “Caution” and “Danger”. In this case, the tag must contain the signal word “Warning” and an appropriate major message.
- Major message
The major message must be presented either in written text, pictographs or both. They must indicate the specific hazard posed by the item or the instruction to be communicated to the employee.
- Signal word
The signal word should be “Caution”, “Danger”, “BIOHAZARD”, “Biological Hazard” or the biological hazard symbol. Remember that it must be readable at a minimum distance of five feet. You could make the minimum distance greater depending on the hazardous condition present.
- Other items
Remember that equipment and machinery are not the only damaged or defective items you must tag. Damaged or worn PPE, defective or broken switches, and frayed, worn or damaged electrical cords are included in the list as well.
Tags are a reminder that little things can do so much. Their absence could be a huge impact in the workplace and believe us, it’s the kind of impact you wouldn’t want to experience.
Related Links:
- Forklift Safety with Proper Training, Inspection and Operation
- What You Need to Know about Lockout, Blockout and Tagout
- Learn Safety with the Professionals
