Absent Person LOTO Lock Removal Form

Pub-3000, Chapter 18, Work Process O addresses Special Condition LOTO Lock Removal.

Personal LOTO Lock Removal

• In the event the key to a lock is lost or misplaced, the lock may be cut by the LOTO Authorized Person after obtaining verbal permission from the Person In Charge of the LOTO.
• In the event that a LOTO Authorized Person is absent, or otherwise unavailable to remove his or her personal LOTO lock(s), the Responsible Individual (RI) may remove the LOTO lock(s) for the Authorized Person, subject to the restrictions in this section.
• If a Responsible Individual has not been assigned, then either the absent Authorized Person’s supervisor or the EHS Electrical Safety Program Manager (or his/her designee) may perform the task.
• The following steps must be taken to remove an absent Authorized Person’s personal LOTO lock(s):
  • Obtain a printed copy of the Absent Authorized Person LOTO Lock Removal Form (see bottom of page).
    
  • Verify that the absent Authorized Person who applied his or her personal lock(s) is not present at the site.
  • Make all reasonable efforts to inform the absent Authorized Person that his/her lockout or tagout device needs to be removed.
  • Make all reasonable efforts to inform the absent Authorized Person’s supervisor that his/her employee’s lockout or tagout device needs to be removed.
  • Permission to remove an absent Authorized Person’s lock must be obtained from each of the following parties:
    • The absent Authorized Person or the absent Authorized Person’s line management and
    • The RI in charge of the specific LOTO, if assigned; or the EHS Electrical Safety Program Manager and
    • A Berkeley Lab senior line manager for the division
• After obtaining all required approvals, the RI (or EHS Electrical Safety Program Manager designee if necessary) must remove the lock(s). If present, the Absent Person’s supervisor must physically witness the lock removal and must retain possession of the lock(s).
• Before the Absent Person returns to any work duty, the Absent Person’s supervisor must ensure that the person is presented with the removed lock and is informed of the reasons for the removal.
• The completed absent Authorized Person LOTO Lock Removal Form must be returned to the EHS Electrical Safety Group for record keeping.

Responsible Individual (RI) Lock Removal:

• In the event the key to an RI Lock is lost or misplaced, the RI may cut their own RI Lock.
• In the event that a RI is absent, or otherwise unavailable to remove their RI Lock, a new RI may remove the LOTO lock for them, subject to the following restrictions:
  • Follow all the requirements for removing an Absent Person’s Personal LOTO Lock.
  • A new RI must be assigned and the LOTO must be transferred to the new RI.
  • The new RI must ensure that all aspects of the LOTO are properly managed.
  • Assistance may be required from a LOTO Coordinator or from the EHS Electrical Safety Group.

Removing a Group LOTO Lock

• Group LOTO lock removal requires extreme caution.  Since the key to a group LOTO lock is normally kept in a locked lockbox, a missing key suggests several alternatives. The lock could in fact belong to a separate Group LOTO with its key in a separate lockbox. Therefore, all due diligence is required to ensure that a separate active Group LOTO is not unknowingly defeated by cutting a group LOTO lock.
• Assistance from a LOTO Coordinator or from the LBNL Electrical Safety Group is recommended.
  

Absent Person LOTO Lock Removal Form