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Mine Safety and Health Administration MSHA's Accident Prevention Program
Safety Idea

Lock Out/Tag Out With Picture

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 Safety Something YOU can live with!
Mine Type: All mines, surface and underground.
Category: Electrical
Lock Out/Tag Out With Picture James Smith of Annville, PA offers a suggestion that could help reduce lock out / tag out related accidents. He suggests using a tag with your picture and name on it when locking out equipment.

A tag containing your picture allows positive identification, even if the name is not familiar. Also, miners may think twice about disregarding a tag if the photograph on the tag makes them realize that they are not only energizing a machine, but quite possibly their fellow miner.

From 2002 to the present, 39 fatal and 915 non-fatal accidents have been reported. This equates to 6.24 fatal and 146 non-fatal accidents per year. The suggestion from Mr. Smith may assist in reducing these types of accidents.

To aim for zero accidents, it is imperative to:
  • ALWAYS perform electrical work with persons trained to do such work.


  • ALWAYS lock and tag out an equipment's visual disconnecting device before performing any electrical work.


  • ALWAYS test circuits to verify that they are de-energized.


MSHA extends a thank you and a tip of the hardhat to

James Smith of Annville, PA.,

winner of a limited edition sticker and patch.

If you have a tip you would like to pass on, you can email it to zzMSHA-MinersTips@dol.gov.
If your tip is selected, you will receive credit in this space.


Issued: 09/24/2010
Tag # AP2010-0098470