Written procedures for Lock out Tag out for dwelling??
- Thread starter Ponchik
- Start date
CistFlames
Member
- Location
- AUstralia
- Occupation
- An ordinary chap who is in the know
Typically no. They’re generally an OSHA/industrial requirement, not residential, though clear labeling and safe shutoff practices are still important.
- Location
- Tennessee NEC:2017
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrician
@CistFlames
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jaggedben
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern California
- Occupation
- Solar and Energy Storage Installer
Things like this generally aren't determined by the type of project, they are determined by who is working there. OSHA regulations typically cover all workplaces that have *employees.* If any contractor has employees working on a single-family dwelling and a failure to utilize LOTO could expose them to danger, then I'd bet that strictly speaking it's required.
If a GC, who is a sole proprietor of their business, and an EC who is a sole proprietor of their business, are the only people working on a single family home, then there's no OSHA jurisdiction and LOTO may not be required. If it's commericial site where the employees of the business are assumed to be present, you need to use LOTO to protect the business' employees. OTOH if your client's kid got electrocuted because you didn't utilize LOTO in a residence when you could have, you're sure going to be liable for wrongful death or injruy regardless of any law or regulation enacted to protect employees. Even though the residents of the single family home are not subject to OSHA.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
That would only be if you are working on something.
There is no LOTO that is part of any electrical installation, however there are rules that require the installer to make provisions for future use of LOTO and failure to install those provisions could place liability on the installer.
Can you give me an example? Like a lockable breaker?
I agree that one would be liable due to negligence, but not passing meter release inspection on an owner builder project, because LOTO is missing???
I am helping a friend on his project and I am not physically involved, otherwise I would speak with the inspector myself.
jaggedben
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern California
- Occupation
- Solar and Energy Storage Installer
That's pretty ridiculous. I mean, contractors aren't held to that standard. Could be a case of inspector worried that an owner-builder doesn't have the experience to keep things safe, but there's no code section to cite. Unless there's a POCO rule, but again, contractors would also be held to that I assume.
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
Do you mean LOTO provisions, like padlock attachment mounted on specific breakers, or a complete LOTO policy?
There are no rules or standards for what a LOTO must include. Yours could be one line that simply says turn off the main breaker before starting work. It would not be very defensible in a lawsuit, but what does that matter unless you own the building or are the tenant.
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- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Yes, there are cases where the code requires that a disconnect have provisions to be lockable in the off position. The installer must provide that provision and the person doing the lock out uses that provision to install the locking device.
jaggedben
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern California
- Occupation
- Solar and Energy Storage Installer
It sounds to me like the inspector wanted the main breaker locked out and tagged out before giving a meter release. Which AFAIK there is no specific rule about, especially not in the NEC.