6. The absence of a tag or label may not be taken
as permission for unauthorized operation of equipment.
7. Whenever a tag or label is issued, correct the
situation requiring the tag or label so it can be removed
as soon as possible.
8. The tag-out procedure is for use by the ships
personnel on the equipment and systems for which they
are responsible. However, repair activity personnel
should use the procedure to the maximum extent
practicable with systems and equipment that are still
under construction.
9. Standard Organization and Regulations of the
U.S. Navy, OPNAV Instruction 3120.32B, is also
required when work is being done by an intermediate
level maintenance activity on equipment or systems that
are the responsibility of the ships force. Sometimes a
ship is under construction or assigned to a repair activity
not under the control of the type commander. When that
happens, the ships force and the repair activity may
have to agree on the use of tags and labels. In this case,
the tag-out system should be formal in nature and
familiar to both the repair activity and the ships force.
10. Any person who knows of a situation requiring
tags or labels should request that they be issued and
applied.
11. When using labels, you should list on the log any
associated requirements specified for installation
procedures, test procedures, work permits (ripouts or
reentries), or system turnover agreements.
12. Make each decision on a case-by-case basis as
to whether an OUT-OF-COMMISSION or an
OUT-OF-CALIBRATION instrument label is to be
used. In general, if the instrument error is small and
consistent, you can use an OUT-OF-CALIBRATION
label and the operator may continue to use the
instrument.
When
you
use
an
OUT-OF-CALIBRATION label, mark on the label the
magnitude and units of the required correction.
However, when you use an OUT-OF-COMMISSION
label, the instrument should not be used.
13. Use enough tags to completely isolate a section
of piping or circuit being worked on, or to prevent the
operation of a system or component from all stations that
could exercise control. Use system diagrams or circuit
schematics to determine the adequacy of all tag-out
actions.
14. Careful planning of tag-outs can significantly
reduce the number of record sheets and tags. Planning
can also reduce the effort required to perform audits,
particularly during periods of overhaul or repair. For
example, a system and the equipment serviced by the
system can be isolated and tagged-out at its boundaries
with other systems. Then several different actions can
be performed within the boundaries. Also, only one
tag-out record sheet with associated tags will be required
for the work within the boundaries. When you initiate
the tag-out, include all known work items in the
Operations/Work Items Included in Tag-out section. If
you add work items to a tag-out record sheet after initial
issue, take the following action:
a. If no additional tags are required for the new
work, have the authorizing officer and, if required, the
repair activity representative make sure the work is
consistent with the purpose of the tag-out. New work
must be fully described in the Operations/Work Items
Included in Tag-out section of the record sheet. The
authorizing officer should make a thorough review to
ensure the completeness and accuracy of the existing
tag-out. This is the same procedure used to initiate a new
tag-out record sheet for the added work The authorizing
officer (and repair activity representative) should sign
the appropriate blocks next to the added item.
b. Additional tags may be needed to provide
enough isolation for work that is to be added. If so, you
must follow the procedures described later in this
chapter for adding tags to an existing record sheet.
PROCEDURES
Assume that a requirement for tags has been
identified, and that the affected system will be out of
commission as a result of the tag-out action. The
authorizing officer must ask the commanding officer
and the responsible department head for permission to
begin the tag-out. The authorizing officer must also
notify the responsible division officer of the requirement
for tag-out. On ships having damage control central
(DCC), the authorizing officer must notify DCC if the
affected system or component will be out of
commission. The authorizing officer should have
approval from either the OOD or the EOOW if the
tag-out will affect systems under their responsibility.
After obtaining permission, the authorizing officer
should direct the preparation of the tag-out record sheet
and tags according to the following procedures. The
procedures may be modified during overhaul periods at
the discretion of the commanding officer.
1. PREPARING TAGS AND THE RECORD
SHEET. DANGER and CAUTION tags and the
associated tag-out record should be prepared as follows:
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