Red Tag Policy


Caliber Construction Alaska Lockout Tagout Policy

Purpose:

This policy establishes Caliber Construction Alaska's protocol for protecting employees involved in service or maintenance on machines or equipment from the risks associated with unexpected start-ups or releases of hazardous energy. Service or maintenance activities encompass erecting, installing, constructing, repairing, adjusting, inspecting, unjamming, setting up, troubleshooting, testing, cleaning, and dismantling machines, equipment, or processes. This policy ensures that machinery or equipment is stopped, isolated from all hazardous energy sources, properly locked, or tagged out, and includes provisions for the RED TAG procedure.

Scope:

This policy applies to all Caliber Construction Alaska employees who may be exposed to hazardous energy during service or maintenance work. Hazardous energy sources include potential, kinetic, flammable, chemical, electrical, and thermal sources.

Employer and Employee Responsibilities:

Caliber Construction Alaska is responsible for implementing and enforcing this policy, while all employees must comply with its provisions. Supervisors are tasked with enforcing the use of lockout and tagout devices during service or maintenance work. Employees engaged in service and maintenance activities must adhere to the lockout/tagout procedures outlined in this policy. Furthermore, employees working in areas where lockout/tagout procedures are implemented must understand the purpose of these procedures and refrain from attempting to restart locked or tagged-out machines or equipment.

Red Tag Procedure:

In addition to lockout and tagout procedures, Caliber Construction Alaska implements a RED TAG procedure. The RED TAG must be placed at the ignition switch/master switch of the equipment and include the following information:

  • Date and time of implementation

  • Employee implementing the lockout

  • Lockout devices must function effectively under relevant environmental conditions.

  • Tagout device warnings must remain legible even in wet, damp, or corrosive conditions.

  • Devices must be strong enough to resist inadvertent removal.

  • Any employee seeing a lockout or tagout device must recognize its purpose and origin.

This RED TAG serves as a visible indicator that the equipment is undergoing service or maintenance and must not be operated. It supplements the lockout/tagout process to provide additional safety measures. A RED TAG shall only be removed by the person who placed the RED TAG. Intentional removal of a RED TAG or starting of equipment with a RED TAG will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.