The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) recently confirmed the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) as the new secretariat of the Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) Z244, which addresses lockout/tagout. The Z244 ASC develops lockout/tagout requirements to control hazardous energy from machines, equipment and processes that can cause serious injury or death to workers.

“This is a key development in the occupational safety, health and environmental profession's ongoing efforts to help prevent accidents caused by the release of hazardous energy from machines, equipment or processes,” said Z244 ASC Chairman Ed Grund, P.E., CSP.

ASSE was approved by ANSI on January 26 as the new Z244 secretariat, held previously by the National Safety Council (NSC).

In addition, the newly revised Z244.1-2003 standard “Control of Hazardous Energy – Lockout/Tagout and Alternative Methods” will tentatively be published by ASSE on April 14, 2004. The revised standard covers lockout/tagout procedures and training, hazardous energy control programs, equipment design, engineering safeguards and alternative methods based on risk assessment for controlling hazardous energy. The Z244 standard was last revised 20 years ago.

ASSE will hold a technical conference call for ASSE members and non-members from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. CST on April 14 to discuss the major revisions in lockout/tagout requirements. For more information on the technical conference call or to order the standard contact ASSE Customer Service at (847) 699-2929 or visit www.asse.org.