Electrical Safety: Verifying System De-Energization

Methods to Verify De-Energization:

To verify that a system has been de-energized after locking and tagging out the equipment, there are specific methods recommended for ensuring safety:

A. Try to start the equipment to verify it won't start: This method involves attempting to start the equipment to confirm that it remains inactive, ensuring that any stored energy has been discharged and preventing unexpected power-ups.

B. Use test equipment to test the circuits and electrical parts for voltage and current: Utilizing specialized testing equipment allows you to check for the presence of electrical energy in the circuits and components, ensuring that the system is truly de-energized.

Why Both Methods Are Important:

Employing both methods A and B is crucial for comprehensive safety assurance. Relying solely on the lockout and tagout process is not sufficient to guarantee that the system is completely de-energized and safe for work.

Additional Safety Measures:

In addition to these verification methods, other safety measures such as circuit breakers and ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) should also be considered to further protect against thermal and shock hazards.