1915 Subpart J
The employer must secure the isolation and shutoff valves connecting the dead boiler to any live system, blank the piping, and then lock or tag those valves to show employees are working on the boiler. See 1915.162(a)(1) which requires the valves be secured, blanked, and locked or tagged in accordance with 1915.89.
If valves are welded instead of bolted, the employer must secure at least two isolation and shutoff valves connecting the dead boiler with the live system, and then lock or tag them before entry. This requirement is stated in 1915.162(a)(1) and the locking/tagging must follow 1915.89.
A lock or tag may not be removed until it is determined that removing it will not create a hazard to the employees working on the boiler, or until the boiler work is completed. This is required by 1915.162(a)(1), which references the procedures for locks and tags in 1915.89.
All drain connections to atmosphere on dead interconnecting systems must be opened so workers can visually observe any drainage. This is required by 1915.162(a)(2).
A warning sign stating that employees are working in the boilers must be hung in a conspicuous location in the engine room and must remain in place until the work is completed and all employees are out of the boilers. This is required by 1915.162(a)(3).
The employer is responsible for making sure the required steps are taken before employees work in the fire, steam, or water spaces of a boiler. 1915.162(a) explicitly places this duty on the employer and refers to the lock/tag procedures in 1915.89.
Yes — the standard requires that the isolation and shutoff valves be secured and blanked, and then locked or tagged, before employees enter the boiler spaces. See 1915.162(a)(1) and the referenced lock/tag procedures in 1915.89.
The standard requires securing, blanking, and locking or tagging of the isolation valves; when valves are welded instead of bolted the rule specifically requires at least two isolation valves be secured and locked or tagged. If only one physical valve exists and it cannot be blanked or secured, the employer must provide equivalent measures to isolate the boiler and comply with 1915.162(a)(1) and the related lock/tag requirements in 1915.89.
Yes — the locking or tagging of valves must be done in accordance with the lockout/tagout procedures referenced in 1915.89. 1915.162(a)(1) explicitly directs employers to use those procedures when securing valves.
Drains must be opened so workers can visually confirm whether any medium (steam, water, oil, etc.) is draining from the interconnecting systems, which helps ensure the space is isolated and not subject to a direct escape of a high-temperature medium. This visual-drain requirement is specified in 1915.162(a)(2).
The standard requires a warning sign that calls attention to the fact that employees are working in the boilers; it must be hung in a conspicuous location in the engine room so anyone entering the area can see it. The exact wording is not prescribed, but the sign must clearly notify others that boiler work is in progress, as required by 1915.162(a)(3).
Yes — the standard permits valves to be locked or tagged, provided that the locking or tagging follows the procedures in 1915.89. Employers must ensure the chosen method protects employees from hazards posed by re-energizing or reintroducing pressure or flow to the boiler while work is underway, per 1915.162(a)(1).
No — the sign must remain in place until the work is completed and all employees are out of the boilers, as required by 1915.162(a)(3).
Valves that have been secured and blanked must be locked or tagged in accordance with 1915.89 to indicate that employees are working on the boiler, per 1915.162(a)(1). The lock or tag serves as the visible indication that the system must not be reactivated until it is safe to do so.
The standard explicitly lists steam, water, oil, or other media at high temperature as hazards that can enter boiler spaces from interconnecting systems; such direct escapes require the isolation, draining, and signage steps in 1915.162(a).
While 1915.162 requires the employer to ensure the physical isolation, draining, and posting steps are taken, it does not prescribe a specific written procedure or training format in that paragraph; however, the lock/tagging actions must conform to 1915.89, which contains procedural requirements for locking and tagging. Employers should use those requirements to develop appropriate procedures and training.
Yes — 1915.162(a) requires the employer to take the steps for each dead boiler where employees may be exposed to escape of high-temperature media. Each affected boiler must have its isolation valves secured, blanked, and locked or tagged as required by 1915.162(a)(1), its drains opened for observation per 1915.162(a)(2), and a conspicuous warning sign posted in the engine room per 1915.162(a)(3).
The standard requires that locks or tags not be removed nor valves unblanked until it is determined that doing so will not create a hazard to the employees working on the boiler or until the work is completed, per 1915.162(a)(1). That determination is an employer responsibility; employers should follow the lockout/tagout decision procedures in 1915.89 when making that evaluation.
The requirements apply before any work is performed in the fire, steam, or water spaces of a boiler where employees may be subject to injury from direct escape of a high-temperature medium — this includes repairs, inspections, or any activity that requires employees to be in those spaces. See 1915.162(a).
Yes — the employer (including the host employer responsible for the work environment) must ensure the isolation, draining, and posting steps are taken before anyone works in boiler spaces, whether the workers are company employees or contractors, as required by 1915.162(a).
Yes — tagging alone can meet the requirement if locking is not feasible, but the tagging must be done in accordance with the lock/tag procedures in 1915.89 and provide the same level of protection by preventing accidental reactivation of the system, per 1915.162(a)(1).