Federal
Lockout –Verrouillage
This material has been extracted from the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, SOR/86-304 to help students understand the subject. It is not an official source of information and must not be used for any other purpose.
It was obtained from the Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII – www.canlii.org).
Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations SOR/86-304
Canada Labour Code
PART I
Interpretation
1.2 In these Regulations,
“locked out” means, in respect of any equipment, machine or device, that the equipment, machine or device has been rendered inoperative and cannot be operated or energized without the consent of the person who rendered it inoperative; (verrouillé)
Alternate Media
1.8 (1) In this section,
“alternate media” means any method of communication that permits an employee with a special need to receive any information, instruction or training required by these Regulations to be provided, including braille, large print, audio tape, computer disc, sign language and verbal communications; (média substitut)
“highly visible” means marked with brightly coloured paint, painted with a reflective coating or marked by other means so as to be readily apparent; (très visible)
“special need” means a condition that impairs an employee’s ability to receive any information, instruction or training that is required by these Regulations to be provided. (besoins spéciaux)
(2) Subject to subsection (5), where an employer or other person is required by these Regulations to give, provide or make available any information, instruction or training to an employee and the employee has a special need, the employer or other person shall give, provide or make available the information, instruction or training to the employee by means of an alternate medium.
(3) Where information, including warnings, is required by these Regulations to be provided by means of a sign or marking, the alternate medium shall be visible or audible to an employee with a special need.
(4) Where a warning is required to be given by a means other than a sign or marking, the warning shall be given to an employee with a special need in a manner that effectively warns the employee of the nature of the danger.
(5) Where an employer or other person is required by these Regulations to give, provide or make available any information by means of labels, defect tags or lockout tags, the employer or other person need not provide the information by means of an alternate medium on the labels, defect tags or lockout tags.
SOR/96-525, s. 1.
PART VIII
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
Interpretation
8.1 In this Part,
“Canadian Electrical Code” means
(a) CSA Standard C22.1-1990, Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, dated January 1990, and
(b) CSA Standard C22.3 No.1-M1979, Overhead Systems and Underground Systems, dated April, 1979; (Code canadien de l’électricité)
“control device” means a device that will safely disconnect electrical equipment from its source of energy; (dispositif de commande)
“electrical equipment” means equipment for the generation, distribution or use of electricity; (outillage électrique)
“guarantor” means a person who gives a guarantee of isolation; (garant)
“guarded” means covered, shielded, fenced, enclosed or otherwise protected by means of suitable covers or casings, barriers, guardrails, screens, mats or platforms to remove the possibility of dangerous contact or approach by persons or objects; (protégé)
“isolated” means separated or disconnected from every source of electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic or other kind of energy that is capable of making electrical equipment dangerous; (isolé)
“person in charge” means an employee who supervises employees performing work on or a live test of isolated electrical equipment. (responsable)
SOR/88-632, s. 17(F); SOR/94-263, s. 14; SOR/98-427, s. 1.
Isolation of Electrical Equipment
8.12 (1) Before an employee isolates electrical equipment or changes or terminates the isolation of electrical equipment, the employer shall issue written instructions with respect to the procedures to be followed for the safe performance of that work.
(2) The instructions referred to in subsection (1) shall be signed by the employer and shall specify
(a) the date and hour when the instructions are issued;
(b) the date and hour of the commencement and of the termination of the period during which the instructions are to be followed;
(c) the name of the employee to whom the instructions are issued; and
(d) where the instructions are in respect of the operation of a control device that affects the isolation of the electrical equipment,
(i) the device to which the instructions apply, and
(ii) where applicable, the correct sequence of procedures.
(3) A copy of the instructions referred to in subsection (1) shall be shown and explained to the employee.
(4) The instructions referred to in subsection (1) shall be kept readily available for examination by employees for the period referred to in paragraph (2)(b) and thereafter shall be kept by the employer for a period of one year at his place of business nearest to the work place in which the electrical equipment is located.
SOR/88-632, s. 19((F).
8.13 (1) Subject to subsection (4), no work on or live test of isolated electrical equipment shall be performed unless
(a) isolation of the equipment has been confirmed by test; and
(b) the employer has determined, on the basis of visual observation, that every control device and every locking device necessary to establish and maintain the isolation of the equipment
(i) is set in the safe position with the disconnecting contacts of control devices safely separated or, in the case of a draw-out type electrical switch gear, is withdrawn to its full extent from the contacts of the electrical switch gear,
(ii) is locked out, and
(iii) bears a distinctive tag or sign designed to notify persons that operation of the control device and movement of the locking device are prohibited during the performance of the work or live test.
(2) Where more than one employee is performing any work on or live test of isolated electrical equipment, a separate tag or sign for each such employee shall be attached to each control device and locking device referred to in subsection (1).
(3) The tag or sign referred to in subparagraph (1)(b)(iii) or subsection (2) shall
(a) contain the words “DO NOT OPERATE — DÉFENSE D’ACTIONNER” or display a symbol conveying the same meaning;
(b) show the date and hour that the control device and the locking device referred to in paragraph (1)(b) were set in the safe position or were withdrawn to their full extent from the contacts;
(c) show the name of the employee performing the work or live test;
(d) where used in connection with a live test, be distinctively marked as a testing tag or sign;
(e) be removed only by the employee performing the work or live test; and
(f) be used for no purpose other than the purpose referred to in paragraph (1)(b)(iii).
(4) Where, because of the nature of the work in which the electrical equipment is being used, it is not practicable to comply with subsection (1), no work on or live test of electrical equipment shall be performed unless a guarantee of isolation referred to in section 8.14 is given to the person in charge.
SOR/88-632, s. 20(F); SOR/94-263, s. 19(F).
Guarantees of Isolation for Electrical Equipment
[SOR/88-632, s. 21(F)]
8.14 (1) No employee shall give or receive a guarantee of isolation for electrical equipment unless he is authorized in writing by his employer to give or receive a guarantee of isolation.
(2) Not more than one employee shall give a guarantee of isolation for a piece of electrical equipment for the same period of time.
(3) Before an employee performs work on or a live test of isolated electrical equipment, the person in charge shall receive from the guarantor
(a) a written guarantee of isolation; or
(b) where owing to an emergency it is not practicable for the person in charge to receive a written guarantee of isolation, a non-written guarantee of isolation.
(4) A written guarantee of isolation referred to in paragraph (3)(a) shall be signed by the guarantor and by the person in charge and shall contain the following information:
(a) the date and hour when the guarantee of isolation is given to the person in charge;
(b) the date and hour when the electrical equipment will become isolated;
(c) the date and hour when the isolation will be terminated, if known;
(d) the procedures by which isolation is assured;
(e) the name of the guarantor and the person in charge; and
(f) a statement as to whether live tests are to be performed.
(5) Where a non-written guarantee of isolation referred to in paragraph (3)(b) is given, a written record thereof shall forthwith
(a) be made by the guarantor; and
(b) be made and signed by the person in charge.
(6) A written record referred to in subsection (5) shall contain the information referred to in subsection (4).
(7) Every written guarantee of isolation and every written record referred to in subsection (5) shall be
(a) kept by the person in charge readily available for examination by the employee performing the work or live test until the work or live test is completed;
(b) given to the employer when the work or live test is completed; and
(c) kept by the employer for a period of one year after the completion of the work or live test at his place of business nearest to the work place in which the electrical equipment is located.
SOR/88-632, ss. 21, 22; SOR/94-263, s. 20(F); SOR/96-525, s. 13.
8.15 Where a written guarantee of isolation or a written record of an oral guarantee of isolation is given to a person in charge and the person in charge is replaced at the work place by another person in charge before the guarantee has terminated, the other person in charge shall sign the written guarantee of isolation or written record of the oral guarantee of isolation.
SOR/88-632, s. 23(F).
8.16 Before an employee gives a guarantee of isolation for electrical equipment that obtains all or any portion of its electrical energy from a source that is not under his direct control, the employee shall obtain a guarantee of isolation in respect of the source from the person who is in direct control thereof and is authorized to give the guarantee in respect thereof.
SOR/88-632, s. 23(F).
Live Test
8.17 (1) No employee shall give a guarantee of isolation for the performance of a live test on isolated electrical equipment unless
(a) any other guarantee of isolation given in respect of the electrical equipment for any part of the period for which the guarantee of isolation is given is terminated;
(b) every person to whom the other guarantee of isolation referred to in paragraph (a) was given has been informed of its termination; and
(c) any live test to be performed on the electrical equipment will not be hazardous to the health or safety of the person performing the live test.
(2) Every person performing a live test shall warn all persons who, during or as a result of the test, are likely to be exposed to a hazard.
SOR/88-632, s. 23(F); SOR/2002-208, s. 39.
Termination of Guarantee of Isolation
8.18 (1) Every person in charge shall, when work on or a live test of isolated electrical equipment is completed,
(a) inform the guarantor thereof; and
(b) make and sign a record in writing containing the date and hour when he so informed the guarantor and the name of the guarantor.
(2) On receipt of the information referred to in subsection (1), the guarantor shall make and sign a record in writing containing
(a) the date and hour when the work or live test was completed; and
(b) the name of the person in charge.
(3) The records referred to in subsections (1) and (2) shall be kept by the employer for a period of one year after the date of signature thereof at his place of business nearest to the work place in which the electrical equipment is located.
SOR/88-632, s. 24(F).
PART XI
CONFINED SPACES
Interpretation
11.1 In this Part,
“class of confined spaces” means a group of at least two confined spaces that are likely, by reason of their similarity, to present the same hazards to persons entering, exiting or occupying them; (catégorie d’espaces clos)
“confined space” means an enclosed or partially enclosed space that
(a) is not designed or intended for human occupancy except for the purpose of performing work,
(b) has restricted means of access and egress, and
(c) may become hazardous to any person entering it owing to
(i) its design, construction, location or atmosphere,
(ii) the materials or substances in it, or
(iii) any other conditions relating to it; (espace clos)
“hot work” means any work where flame is used or a source of ignition may be produced. (travail à chaud)
SOR/88-68, s. 14; SOR/88-632, s. 48(F); SOR/92-544, s. 1; SOR/95-286, s. 1(E).
Confined Space Entry
11.4 (1) The employer shall, where a person is about to enter a confined space, appoint a qualified person
(a) to verify, by means of tests, that compliance with the following specifications can be achieved during the period of time that the person will be in the confined space, namely,
(i) the concentration of any chemical agent or combination of chemical agents in the confined space to which the person is likely to be exposed will not result in the exposure of the person
(A) to a concentration of that chemical agent or combination of chemical agents in excess of the value referred to in paragraph 10.19(1)(a), or
(B) to a concentration of that chemical agent or combination of chemical agents in excess of the percentage set out in subsection 10.20(1), or in subsection 10.20(2) under the circumstances described in that subsection,
(ii) the concentration of airborne hazardous substances, other than chemical agents, in the confined space is not hazardous to the health or safety of the person, and
(iii) the percentage of oxygen in the air in the confined space is not less than 18 per cent by volume and not more than 23 per cent by volume, at normal atmospheric pressure;
(b) to verify that
(i) any liquid in which the person could drown has been removed from the confined space,
(ii) any free-flowing solid in which the person may become entrapped has been removed from the confined space,
(iii) the entry of any liquid, free-flowing solid or hazardous substance into the confined space has been prevented by a secure means of disconnection or by the fitting of blank flanges,
(iv) all electrical and mechanical equipment that may present a hazard to the person has been disconnected from its power source, real or residual, and has been locked out, and
(v) the opening for entry into and exit from the confined space is sufficient to allow the safe passage of a person using protection equipment; and
(c) subject to subsection 11.5(1), to verify that the specifications set out in paragraph (a) are complied with during all times that a person is in the confined space.
(2) The qualified person referred to in subsection (1) shall, in a signed and dated report to the employer, set out the results of the verification carried out in accordance with that subsection, including the test methods, the test results and a list of the test equipment used.
(3) The employer shall
(a) where the report made pursuant to subsection (2) indicates that a person who has entered the confined space has been in danger, send the report to the work place committee or the health and safety representative; and
(b) in all other cases, make a written copy or a machine-readable version of the report available to the work place committee or the health and safety representative.
SOR/88-68, s. 14; SOR/92-544, s. 1; SOR/95-286, s. 4; SOR/96-294, s. 3; SOR/2002-208, ss. 25, 43(F).
PART XIII
TOOLS AND MACHINERY
Use, Operation, Repair and Maintenance of Machine Guards
13.14 Machine guards shall be operated, maintained and repaired by a qualified person.
13.15 Subject to section 13.16, where a machine guard is installed on a machine, no person shall use or operate the machine unless the machine guard is in its proper position.
SOR/94-263, s. 51.
13.16 (1) Subject to subsection (2), where it is necessary to remove a machine guard from a machine in order to perform repair or maintenance work on the machine, no person shall perform the repair or maintenance work unless the machine has been locked out in accordance with a written lock out procedure provided by the employer.
(2) Where it is not reasonably practicable to lock out a machine referred to in subsection (1) in order to perform repair or maintenance work on the machine, the work may be performed if
(a) the person performing the work follows written instructions provided by the employer that will ensure that any hazard to that person is not significantly greater than it would be if the machine had been locked out; and
(b) the person performing the work
(i) obtains a written authorization from the employer each time the work is performed, and
(ii) performs the work under the direct supervision of a qualified person.
13.17 A copy of the instructions referred to in section 13.16 shall be kept readily available by the employer for the information of persons who perform repair and maintenance work on his machines.
