Energy Isolation - Fundamental Intent | AIChE

Energy Isolation - Fundamental Intent

Last updated January 12, 2021 | Element: Fundamental Intent

To identify and manage release of hazardous energy that could result in personal injuries, property damage, community impacts, environmental impacts, or business impacts.  This includes inadvertent start-up of de-energized equipment, release of stored energy and release of hazardous materials during maintenance or operations activities.  Types of hazardous energy releases that should be controlled include:

  • Electricity – energized circuits still connected to the equipment(including stored electrical energy such as capacitors or battery backups)
  • Kinetic energy – energy of moving objects (i.e. gears, fan blades, or saw blades)
  • Potential energy – stored energy (i.e. object that may fall due to gravity if not controlled, hydraulic or pneumatic systems under pressure)
  • Pressurized liquids and gases (including air and nitrogen)
  • Chemical energy – hazardous material releases
  • Thermal energy – such as steam or hot water releases
  • Communications (that is, Remote starting equipment)
  • Radiation – X-rays, laser, or radioactive sources

Lockout/Tagout/Try

Refers to the placement of a lock and isolation tag on an isolating device indicating that the isolating device and its system shall not be operated or removed until the lock and isolation tags are removed. Then Try to start the equipment (for electrical isolations) or Try to find residual pressure, chemicals, or energy in the process by checking bleed valves or other sources.  The Try step is mandatory. The Try step confirms that the isolation and lock work as planned.  

Examples activities that would require use of an Energy Isolation (Lock-Out/Tag-Out) SWP: 

Rotating Equipment

  1. Pumps
  2. Agitators
  3. Compressors
  4. Turbines
  5. Conveyors
  6. Blowers
  7. Star valves
  8. Extruders
  9. Cutters
  10. Rollers

Power Equipment

  1. Electrical switchgear
  2. Electrical circuits

Pneumatically-Operated Equipment

  1. Conveying systems
  2. Pneumatically operated machinery

Hydraulically-Operated Equipment

  1. Filter presses
  2. Molding presses
  3. Automated packaging equipment

Line or Equipment Opening Activities

  • Refer to Line/Equipment Opening SWP for additional details

Confined Space Entry Activities

  • Refer to Confined Space Entry SWP for additional details

Hot Work Activities

  • Refer to Hot Work SWP for additional details