This document discusses the importance of isolating hazardous energy sources before maintenance or repair work. It identifies several types of hazardous energy, including electrical, mechanical, chemical, thermal radiation, and pressure. Proper isolation is required when servicing equipment where parts could create a hazard, working on pipelines carrying hazardous chemicals, or working on electrical circuits with a risk of shock. Failure to isolate energy sources could result in injuries like electrocution, crushing, burns, or even death. The document stresses switching off and isolating all energy sources, as well as controlling stored energy through actions like blocking moving parts, before starting any maintenance work.

1. ISOLATE ENERGIES

2. INTRODUCTION
• Persons who work on or around hazardous energy
sources have to be aware of controls required to prevent
injury or accidents
• Hazardous energy is the energy stored that if released
may cause a serious accident or physical damage.
I l t t t i j d t t d• Isolate energy to prevent injury due to unexpected
startup of equipment or released energy.
Maintenance/servicing operations often require employee
to place part or all of his/her body into machine’s point ofto place part or all of his/her body into machine s point of
operation, if the machine is not completely isolated it can
be started and you will be in they
LINE OF FIRE

3. TYPES OF HAZARDOUS ENERGY
• Electrical
– 220 - 380 v, high voltage - substations
• Chemical
– reaction, fire, explosion
• Mechanical• Mechanical
– release of a spring, moving parts, falling objects, Pistons
under pressurep
• Thermal Radiation
– hot/cold, radiationhot/cold, radiation
• Pressure
– pressurized gases, vacuum pumps, pneumatic cylinders,
hydraulics

4. ISOLATION
• Any equipment able to store hazardous• Any equipment able to store hazardous
energy has to be isolated before any work is
carried outcarried out
• Only trained and authorized persons can
i l t thiisolate this energy.
• Sometimes is just turning the switch off and
removing from the socket (electrical energy)
• For more complex operations, it might meanp p g
closing valves, putting blinds in place etc
(pressure energy)(p gy)

5. ISOLATION IS REQUIRED WHEN:
When servicing maintaining or repairing mechanical• When servicing, maintaining or repairing mechanical
equipment where parts could create a hazard.
• When working on pipelines that carry hazardous
chemicals (e.g. high pressure, toxic, corrosive, etc.).
• On electrical circuits and systems where a high risk of
electrical shock existselectrical shock exists.
• Where other hazardous energies exists that may
cause injury if intentionally released during service or
maintenance.

6. IF YOU DON’T ISOLATE
Types of hazardous energy with risks:
Electrical Thermal Radiation
• electrical shock
• burns
• fire / explosion
• burns hot/cold
• fire
• eye injuriesp
• secondary injuries
• DEATH
Chemical
• eye injuries
• skin cancer
• DEATH
P (h d li & ti )Chemical
• chemical splash
• inhalation
burns
Pressure (hydraulic & pneumatic)
• punctures
• secondary injuries
• burns
• dermatitis
• Cancer
DEATH
• bends - air blockage in
the bloodstream
• physical hazards - flying
• DEATH
Mechanical
• crushing of body parts
p y y g
particles
• DEATH
• amputation
• Entanglement
• DEATH

7. THESE HAVE HAPPENED
ELECTRICAL ENERGY
Failing to electrically
MECHANICAL ENERGY
Failing to isolate
PRESURE ENERGY
Failing to isolate high
CHEMICAL ENERGY
Failing to understand
isolate machinery
before opening may
lead to electrocution
machinery before
working may crush
you where injury
pressure before
working on a
system could be
the properties of
chemicals you ARE
using could be
where injury could be
fatal.
SWITCH OFF AND
could be fatal.
MECHANICALLY
fatal
SWITCH OFF AND
fatal.
ENSURE YOU READ
ISOLATE THE
EQUIPMENT BEFORE
ANY MAINTENANCE
ISOLATE THE
EQUIPMENT BEFORE
ANY MAINTENANCE
ISOLATE ALL
PRESURE
SOURCES BEFORE
AND UNDERSTAND
THE MSDS BEFORE
YOU WORK WITH
STARTS.
as low as 30 volts can carry
enough current to kill
STARTS.
Working on unfamiliar
machinery is a hazard
ANY MAINTENANCE
STARTS.
Properly vent all systems
ANY CHEMICAL
Before working – release,
drain or vent chemicals
safelybefore starting work safely

8. Control Stored Energy
Bl k l i th t i
gy
• Block or release springs or other tension
• Block elevated parts
• Stop rotating flywheels
• Relieve system pressure• Relieve system pressure
• Drain fluids
• Vent gases

9. CONCLUSION
Know your equipment & systemsKnow your equipment & systems
– hazards
isolation points– isolation points
– procedure for isolating
W ki f ili hi i h dWorking on unfamiliar machinery is a hazard