Frequently asked questions - Electrical Panel Lockout

Electrical Lockout tagout is a safety procedure used when work needs to be done on electrical wiring or equipment. Of course the circuit breaker needs to be shut off first. But what if someone turns the breaker on while work on the wiring is still in progress? The purpose of a lockout tagout device is to prevent that from happening. All lockout tagouts have some things in common. The lockout is installed and a lock is placed on it. Only the electrician doing the work should have the key. A tagout is then placed onto the lock to notify everyone that work on circuit wiring is being done. The tag warns them not to tamper with the device. The tag should have the date and contact information of the electrician performing the work.

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Every electrician must use some lockout tagout device when working on live circuit wiring. OSHA mandates the use of lockout tagout. Electrical Lockout tagout can save lives

– The Panel Lockout is much sturdier and secure than those small, red, circuit breaker lockouts, which can fall off or easily be removed.

-Many different size circuit breaker lockouts are needed to fit different types and sizes of circuit breakers. The Panel Lockout can be used any type or size breaker. It can be installed on any panel cover with screws. In addition, with our clips, the Panel Lockout can be installed on most panel covers without screws.

-The panel door can not be closed when circuit breaker lockouts are installed. Unauthorized personnel will have access to all the unprotected breakers in the panel. The door is always closed and locked with the Panel Lockout.

-Several circuit breakers are easily be locked out with the Panel Lockout with only one padlock.

-When installing a circuit breaker lockout there is a danger of accidentally tripping an adjacent breaker. The Panel Lockout is installed outside the panel so there is no chance of accidentally disturbing an active circuit breaker.

Aside from its use as a lockout tagout device, the Panel Lockout is also a time saving tool in new construction. During construction, we often wait until the last minute to terminate wiring onto live panels in order to keep the wires to the field dead as long as possible. Panel trims and covers aren’t installed until the wires are terminated. With the Panel Lockout, as soon as all the wires are installed they can be terminated.  Then the panel trims and covers can be installed and all the circuit breakers can be locked out with the Panel Lockout. It eliminates searching for misplaced panel covers at the end of the job and scrambling to terminate panels at the end of the project. In addition, the early completion of the panel wiring prevents wire damage or theft.

The Panel Lockout can be used to keep breakers locked on. Critical equipment must not be accidentally shut down. So, the electrical panel can be locked and therefore unauthorized personnel are kept out.

The Panel Lockout is only 13 inches long, when retracted, and weighs only a few ounces. It fits in a toolbag and can be used on most electrical panels. With the two available extensions, the Panel Lockout can be used on panels from 14 inches to 37 inches wide. The cost of a Panel Lockout is only a fraction other lockout/tagout systems.

We also fabricate a Stainless Steel Panel Lockout. It can be used as a lockout tagout device. Additionally, the Steel Panel Lockout can help stop vandalism and theft in electrical panels and pull boxes. They are 16 inches long when retracted and fit panels or pull boxes from 17 inches to 27 inches wide.

The Steel Panel Lockout is designed to keep vandals from entering an electrical panel or a junction box. With the high price of copper, wire theft has been increasing on construction projects. Theft not only results in a loss of the value of the wire, but also the cost of re-installing it. By using our Steel Panel Lockout to lock panels and junction boxes before the power is turned on, thieves will have a difficult time trying to steal the wire.

The Steel Panel Lockout is also useful for temporary light and power panels on construction jobs. These are panels that should be accessed only by the electrician.

The Steel Panel Lockouts should not be used near exposed live bus or live wires.

Our “Clips for Panels without Screws” will work on most panels. You can see them in out web store. Clips for panels without screws

Click on the photos for close-ups.

The clips will not work on panel covers that wrap around the back box. For those types of panels you can install two screws as follows, or call us for another solution we may have for you

Drill two holes with a # 7 drill bit in the panel backbox edges (at arrows, see photo below). Tap the holes with a 1/4-20 tap. Then drill two corresponding 5/16 inch holes in the panel cover. Install two 1/4-20 panel screws (truss head) through the panel cover into the panel backbox. Then, the Panel Lockout can be used with the standard instructions. When the Panel Lockout is not in use, the two panel screws can remain installed and do not detract from the appearance of the panel.

An easy method to perform the above screw installation

1. Remove the panel cover and make sure there are no wires where you will be drilling. Replace the panel cover.

2. Drill through both the panel cover and the panel backbox at panel edge (at arrows, see photo) with a # 7 drill bit. Remove the panel cover.

3. Enlarge the two holes in the panel cover with a 5/16 drill bit. Tap the two holes in the panel backbox with a 1/4-20 tap.

4. Replace the panel cover and screw in the two panel screws.

CFR 29
[230.70(A)(1)]. In a multiple-occupancy building, each occupant must have access to the service disconnecting means [230.72(C)]. However, if electrical maintenance is provided by continuous building management, the service disconnecting means can be accessible only to building management personnel.

Comment——–The electrician (hired through the building management) is an agent of the building management and is authorized to control access. It is common for a tenant that needs access to a panel to call the building for access. In this case, the electrician’s contact information is on the tagout so access can be gained. The electrician would supervise any access so the circuit breakers he is working on do not get turned on.

The following is a letter ruling from OSHA regarding locking an electrical panel

October 24,

Mr. Jimmy Hill
Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate
Industrial Safety Department
Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsville, AL

Dear Mr. Hill:

Thank you for your inquiry dated May 24, , regarding clarification of the definition for “Readily accessible” as contained in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) electrical standards. This letter constitutes OSHA’s interpretation only of the requirements discussed and may not be applicable to any question not delineated within your original correspondence. We apologize for the delay in our response. Your paraphrased scenario, question, and our response are provided below.

Scenario

It is not a standard practice at the Marshall Space Flight Center to lock electrical panels operating at 600 volts or less, but a request has been received from our Facilities Department to place locks that require a key to open all electrical panels. Locking the panels is to control access by unauthorized employees. A majority of these panels are lighting panels operating at 277 volts and are located throughout the center in office buildings, shop areas, and testing facilities. The breakers in these electrical panels are not used by employees as switches to turn equipment on and off daily.

Question: Does locking the electrical panels operating at 600 volts or less (to control access by unauthorized employees) violate OSHA electrical requirements for not being “Readily accessible” in the event of an emergency?

Response: In accordance with 29 CFR .399, Readily accessible is defined as “capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections, without requiring those to whom ready access is requisite to climb over or remove obstacles or to resort to portable ladders, chairs, etc.” This definition, however, does not preclude the use of a lock on the disconnecting means (circuit breakers panel), provided those, for whom ready access may be necessary, have a key (or lock combination) available. Additionally, the National Electrical Code (NEC) , Article 110.26, partly states, “Enclosures housing electrical apparatus that are controlled by a lock(s) shall be considered accessible to qualified persons.” Please note that the use of multiple locks, which requires different keys or combinations, on disconnecting switches may preclude the installation from being accessible or readily accessible to a particular individual who is authorized to access the panel.

MING JIANG supply professional and honest service.

Follow up

Thank you for your interest in occupational safety and health. We hope you find this information helpful. OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards, and regulations. Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. Note that our enforcement guidance may be affected by changes to OSHA rules. Also, from time to time we update our guidance in response to new information. To keep apprised of such developments, you can consult OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact the Office of General Industry Enforcement at 202-693-.

Sincerely,

Richard E. Fairfax, Director
Directorate of Enforcement Programs

Electrical safety is something that is of great concern in residential as well as industrial applications. When managing risks that can be associated with the operation of electrical systems it is usually advisable to have strict lock-out tag out or LOTO practices. An essential part of the executing of these procedures is the Pin-Out Miniature Circuit Breaker Lockout. This device is an important element of a circuit breaker which helps to protect against energization during maintenance or repair works. In this article, we will discuss the information about basic specifications, use, and advantages of Pin-Out Miniature Circuit Breaker Lockouts with a concentration on the opportunities to increase the level of electrical security.

The Role of Circuit Breaker Lockouts

Circuit breaker lockouts are important gadgets that are applied in breaking and locking off electrical circuits for maintenance or servicing. They are make to mechanically contact the circuit breaker toggle switch, so it cannot be switched on by one’s hands. This mechanical barrier plays a significant role in ensuring that there is no accidental energization of electrical equipment since this often leads to many casualties. The overall locking device used in the circuit breaker can be divided into several categories, among which the Pin-Out Miniature Circuit Breaker Lockout has attracted my attention because of its structure and broad adaptability.

Some elements of the pin-out miniature circuit breaker lockouts are as follows:

Versatile Compatibility

The versatility is one of the significant aspects of the Pin-Out Miniature Circuit Breaker Lockout, this is because the devices are compatible with most of the circuit breakers. In particular, it arranges breakers with standard toggle spacings that are 7/16 inches (11mm) or less. Due to this variation, it is ideal to apply the meter on most miniature ISO/DIN circuit breakers used in the global market. In both residential commercial and industrial establishments, this lock-out device can be used to disable the circuits to prevent unauthorized operation.

Compact and Portable Design

There is another plus in the usage of the Pin-Out Miniature Circuit Breaker Lockout and it concerns the small size of the product, compactness. It is compact and can easily fit in a pocket or a bag and since it does not add much weight it can easily be classified as a standard tool that every electrician or maintenance personnel should have. This portability guarantees that the lockout device is always on call usually a move that assists in the quick and proper application of the LOTO procedures.

Durability and Reliability

Having adopted the reinforced nylon PA material, the usage of the Pin-Out Miniature Circuit Breaker Lockout is highly durable. The material commonly referred to as ??beryllium copper’ is characterized by wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and good dielectric properties. Also, it is resistant to a broad temperature spectrum of – 50 C to + 177 C for more environmental requirements. These characteristics guarantee that the lockout device does not fail or become ineffective, especially for a long time, under stress, and in harsh circumstances.

Customizability

Another advantage of the Pin-Out Miniature Circuit Breaker Lockout is that is provided in standard plain and can further be customized such as etching a company logo on the body of the lock. Besides, improving the outlook of the device, it assists in identification and as a tracking number for inventory purposes. This would assist organizations to not only build up their brand values but also work towards meeting the set safety standards.

Safety Padlock Compatibility

The lockout device is therefore arranged to receive all Bozzys safety padlock shackle sizes and locking hasp diameters. Such compatibility means that the lockout can be locked using different padlocks making it secure and in turn more effective. The versatility of padlocks also enables the integration and specification of safety measures for instance the issue of unique padlocks for specific people making them answerable for the padlock and thus enhancing security.

Uses of Pin-Out Miniature Circuit Breaker Lockouts

Industrial Settings

As for risk prevention in industrial settings, the electrical safety measures must be necessarily efficient. Pin-Out Miniature Circuit Breaker Lockouts are predominantly used in manufacturing industries, refineries, and other industries to ensure that a particular circuit remains dead while some work is being carried on it. These lockouts work physically to deny the circuit breaker toggle switches to avoid electric dangers for the workers.

Commercial Buildings

That is why offices, shopping, other commercial centers, hospitals, and other large buildings whose electricity net includes many rooms use Pin-Out Miniature Circuit Breaker Lockouts. In such environments, electrical systems can be intricate and are, therefore, bound to develop problems from time to time. Circuit breaker lockouts assist in ensuring that maintenance personnel aren’t exposed to shock thus reducing the occurrence of electrical-related mishaps that are hazardous to business operations.

Residential Use

It occurs that Pin-Out Miniature Circuit Breaker Lockouts are widely used in industrial and commercial fields; however, they are also useful in residential areas. These devices are useful to the homeowners as well as the electricians while carrying out any do-it-yourself home improvement projects or electrical repair and maintenance works. If they are secured, they can minimize situations where one can get an electric shock or any electrical-related dangers hence enhancing the safety of the house.

Advantages of Pin Out Miniature Circuit Breaker Lockouts

Enhanced Safety

The first advantage of getting a hold of Pin-Out Miniature Circuit Breaker Lockouts is undoubtedly the increase in safety. Technically known as re-closure units, physically securing these circuit breakers discourages energization and therefore helps to prevent electrical-related injuries and sometimes even death. They are an essential aspect of LOTO procedures because they help in maintaining that any work to be done is done in a safe manner that does not interfere with any live processes.

Regulatory Compliance

Compliance with the provisions of safety regulations is crucial to organizations in different industries. Circuit breaker lockouts assist organizations meet the set OSH standards, especially those provided by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). They must be loyal to this particular subject since it not only considers and implements the safety of the workers but also guards the organizations from legal repercussions or penalties.

Cost Savings

The acquisition of proper mini circuit breaker lockouts, such as the Pin-Out Miniature Circuit Breaker Lockouts, will therefore prove efficient in the long-term especially when considering some of the costs mentioned above. This, in turn, saves the organization money since electrical accidents and damages to equipment are highly probable and costly when it comes to repairs and medical bills besides the time spent on repairs and medical treatment. Also, ensuring a safe workplace can be very effective in increasing people’s job satisfaction, and this, in turn, will enhance the functioning of the organization.

For more circuit breaker lock outinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.