EQUATE Energy Isolation Standard

Purpose and Scope

• The standard aims to protect personnel during repair/alteration work on equipment to prevent injury from unexpected energization, start-up, or release of energy/hazardous materials.
• Applicable to all EQUATE-owned/operated facilities, including manufacturing plants, pipelines, maintenance shops, laboratories, commercial pilot plants, R&D/laboratory pilot plants, and office buildings.

Key Definitions

• Active Master Card: a Master Card that remains active from facility representative sign-in to work completion and personnel sign-off.
• ECP Issuer: a person authorized by department leader to issue Energy Control Plans.
• Energy Control Plan (ECP): a documented plan for safely preparing equipment for repair/alteration.
• Energy Source: any source of energy that can be harmful to personnel, including chemical, electrical, thermal, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, pressure, gravity, and radiation.
• Facility Representative: a person with knowledge of facility operations, trained to isolate and tag out equipment.
• Isolating Device: a physical device that prevents energy or material transmission/release, e.g., slide gates, slip blinds, air gaps, block valves, drain valves, and vent valves.
• Isolation of Energy Sources: using Isolating Devices and a Master Card system to control and restrain energy sources.
• Job Representative: the person performing repair/alteration work or representing a group of personnel, responsible for assessing energy source isolation from the worker's perspective.
• Lock-Box: a fully enclosed, numbered, lockable box used to secure keys to Unit Locks.
• Lockout: physically securing an Isolating Device to prevent accidental energization using a lock or bolting mechanism.
• Master Card: a document controlling an isolated system, providing information on Isolating Devices, tag locations, and personnel working under isolation.
• One-Plus: a method preventing inadvertent operation of an Isolating Device, requiring two separate, unrelated actions, e.g., removing a valve handle or disconnecting airlines.
• Personal Lock: an individual's lock, blue in color, identified with name, employee number, and department.
• Personal Tag: a red tag placed on the Isolating Device by the person performing repair/alteration work.
• Physical Isolation: separating or interrupting process lines, utility services, or energy sources, e.g., installing pipeline blinds.

This quiz covers the purpose and scope of the EQUATE energy isolation standard, focusing on protecting personnel during equipment repair and alteration work.