EQUIPMENT TAG-OUT PROCEDURES Post  DANGER  tags,  CAUTION  tags,  and instrument OUT-OF-COMMISSION tags or OUT-OF CALIBRATION  labels  following  authorized procedures. Those tags and labels will help ensure the safety of personnel and prevent improper operation of equipment. Do not remove or break posted safety tags without proper authorization. Chapter 6 of  Standard Organization  and  Regulations  of  the  U.S.  Navy, OPNAVINST 3120.32, contains basic guidelines and standardized procedures for tag-out procedures. Basic Military Requirements, NAVEDTRA 14277, discusses the tag-out procedures in detail. In this topic the purpose of the tag-out bill, tag-out logs, record sheets, and audits will be presented. Purpose An equipment tag-out bill has three purposes. The first purpose is to provide a procedure for personnel to use to prevent the improper operation of a component, piece of equipment, a system, or portion of a system that is isolated or in an abnormal condition. The second purpose is to provide a procedure for personnel to use in operating an instrument that is unreliable or not in a normal operating condition. This procedure is similar to the tag-out procedure except that it requires the use of labels instead of tags to indicate instrument status. The last purpose is to provide separate procedures for personnel to use when accomplishing certain planned maintenance system (PMS) maintenance actions. These procedures apply only to non-nuclear surface ships and craft and non-nuclear, non-propulsion areas of nuclear surface  ships.  PMS  tag-out  procedures  are  not authorized aboard submarines, submarine tenders, submarine rescue vessels, in propulsion areas of nuclear surface ships, or within submarine support facilities. All U.S. Navy ships and repair activities must use standardized tag-out procedures. Tag-out Logs Tag-out logs are used to control the entire tag-out procedure. The number of tag-out logs required depends on ship size. For example, a minesweeper may only require one tag-out log for the whole ship, while a major surface combatant may require a separate log for each department. Individual force commanders specify the number of logs that various ship classes must maintain and what areas of the ship must maintain them. On ships maintaining more than one tag-out log, authorizing  officers  must  exchange  information concerning tag out actions. When a tag out affects other authorizing officers, the initiating party obtains verbal permission from those officers to tag out the system or equipment in question before the tag out is authorized. Examples of systems that may require such coordination are ship service electrical distribution, hydraulics, air, ventilation, and air conditioning chill water systems. The tag-out log is a record of authorization of each effective tag out action. It contains the following documents: A copy of the main instruction and any other amplifying directives for administering the system. (These documents are kept in the front of the log.) A DANGER/CAUTION tag-out index and record of  audits  (index/audit  record).  (The  index/audit  record provides a sequential list of all tag outs and ensures serial numbers  are  sequentially  issued.  They  also  are  used  in audits of the log to provide a ready reference of existing tag outs. The cognizant department head may remove the index pages with all tag outs listed as cleared.) Cleared   DANGER/CAUTION   tag-out   record sheets  that  have  been  cleared  and  completed.  (These sheets are kept in the log until received and removed by the cognizant department head.) Tags in a common system (for example, ship’s radar or   a   fire-control   system)   are   logged   on   one DANGER/CAUTION tag-out record sheet. Subsequent sheets on the same system are kept together. RECORD SHEETS.—Some ships going through an   overhaul   have   used   between   2,000   and   3,000 DANGER/CAUTION  tags.  Ship’s  personnel  use  the record sheets to keep track of all these tags. The front of the  record  sheet  contains  the  name  of  the  system  or component, serial number of the tag out, date/time of tag out  issue,  and  reason  for  the  tag  out.  The  sheet  also contains a place for documentation (blueprints, rip outs, etc.)  and  authorizing  signatures.  On  the  back  of  the 6-5 Q4. Which of the following items promotes safety awareness? 1. Posters 2. Caution signs 3. Inspections 4. All of the above REVIEW QUESTION