scope:

PURPOSE

To describe the Center's Control of Hazardous Energy Program and the process for placing energy-control devices on energy sources to prevent employees from being exposed to the unexpected energization, start-up, or release of stored energy as required by NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) 8715.3. 

APPLICABILITY 

This Marshall Work Instruction (MWI) applies to Center personnel, programs, projects, and activities, including contractors and resident agencies to the extent specified in their respective contracts or agreements. ("Contractors," for purposes of this paragraph, include contractors, grantees, Cooperative Agreement recipients, Space Act Agreement partners, or other agreement parties.) 

This MWI applies to the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF). 

This MWI applies as follows: all mandatory actions (i.e., requirements) are denoted by statements containing the term "shall." The terms: "may" or "can" denote discretionary privilege or permission; "should" denotes a good practice and is recommended, but not required; "will" denotes expected outcome; and "are/is" denotes descriptive material. 

This MWI applies the following: all document citations are assumed to be the latest version unless otherwise noted. 

The MWI applies to Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)-owned equipment/systems operating between 50 and 600 Volts (V) when the service/maintenance activities on the equipment/system are listed in 29 CFR pt 1910.147 (a)(2).

NOTE 1: At MSFC, service and maintenance on equipment/systems operating at 600V or more are under the control of the Redstone Arsenal and are conducted in accordance with their rules and regulations. Contact the Facilities Management Office (FMO) for more information if needed.

NOTE 2: At MAF, service and maintenance on equipment/systems operating at 600V or more are under the control of the MAF Facility Service and Operations Contractor (MSFOC) and are conducted in accordance with MAF-specific LO/TO requirements for those voltage levels.

NOTE 3: Energy-control devices [Lockout/Tagout (LO/TO)] devices are not required in situations where the equipment can be deenergized by an employee with exclusive control of the energy-control device (e.g., cord and plug-connected electrical equipment).

This MWI does not apply to equipment/systems operating below 50V if the capacity of the source and any overcurrent protection between the energy source and the worker are considered and it is determined that there will be no increased exposure to electrical burns or to explosion due to electric arcs. (See National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E Chapter 1.)

NOTE: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established, in 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) pts 1910.301 through 399, a threshold value of 50V that requires electric equipment or circuits to be de-energized when employees perform work near or on exposed energized circuit parts. However, other hazards may exist with low voltage electric energy. This 50-volt electric shock threshold does not pertain to the application of 29 CFR pt 1910.147, and the LO/TO standard would apply to electrical sources (not covered by 29 CFR pt 1910.301 through399), or 29 CFR pt 1910.269) at any voltage whenever there is sufficient energy present to injure employees. (See OSHA Compliance Instruction (CPL) 02-00-147 Chapter 3.) 

The MWI does not apply to service/maintenance activities conducted on equipment/systems listed in 29 CFR pt 1910.147(a)(1)(ii) and (a)(2)(iii).

NOTE: Service/maintenance activities such as minor tool changes and adjustments that are routine, repetitive, and integral to the use of the equipment and conducted during normal production operations are not regulated by 29 CFR pt 1910.147, if the safeguarding provisions of 29 CFR pts 1910.211 through219 and 29 CFR pts 1910.301 through399, or other applicable portions of 29 CFR pt 1910 are implemented to prevent worker exposure to the hazards created by the unexpected energization or startup of the equipment/system.

This MWI does not apply to service/maintenance activities conducted on equipment/systems under the exclusive control of electric utilities for the purpose of power generation, transmission, and distribution that is regulated by 29 CFR pt 1910.269 and 29 CFR pts 1910.301 through 399.