SAFETY PERFORMANCE STANDARD

ISOLATION 2.3. Everyone's responsibility

1. Scope 2.3.1. Everyone, including the Isolation Officer, who has to
perform work on the plant, equipment or system,
This standard applies to all Vedanta business units and must first apply a personal lock and identification
managed operations, including new acquisitions, tag in accordance with the isolation procedure;
admin/corporate offices and research facilities located off site; 2.3.2. Personal locks must be such that they can only be
during exploration, through all development phases and locked/unlocked by their owner;
construction, operation to closure and, where applicable, for
2.3.3. Personal locks may never be removed other than by
post closure management. Types of Hazardous energy & its
the person to whom they belong. Where a lock has
potential: This standard applies to all sources of hazardous
been inadvertently left in place and the department
energy and hazardous substances.
or area manager determines that it is impractical to
recall the owner, the lock can be removed but only
Energy Types
under the direct supervision of the department or
Energy Kinetic Energy Potential Energy Examples area manager or his/her appointed nominee and in
Source Examples accordance with a written procedure.
Electrical Current Batteries, capacitors, voltage,
3. Process
Mechanical Turning shafts, gears Tensed spring, flywheel
3.1. There are nine mandatory isolation steps required for safe
Hydraulic Pistons, motors Pressure in accumulators
execution of jobs involving any type of energy isolation:
Pneumatic Actuators pistons Pressure in tanks, lines 3.1.1. Prepare for isolation by obtaining a written isolation
Steam Flowing steam Steam in pipelines, drums
procedure identifying energy sources; the number of
Chemical Flowing liquid, gases, Trapped gases, liquid, slurry locks required; isolation devices; communication
slurry, cake with operators & other concerned persons;
Gravity Moving components Elevated counter weights 3.1.2. De-energize the plant or machine;
Radiation Released energy Contained source material 3.1.3. Isolate all energy sources;
3.1.4. Drain or block and, where appropriate, bleed residual
2. People energy to achieve a zero-energy state;
2.1. Isolation Officer: Whenever equipment, plant or section of 3.1.5. Secure each isolation device, generally with locks &
plant is to be isolated there must be a person designated suitable tags;
to carry out the isolation procedure. That person is 3.1.6. Verify zero energy;
referred to as the Isolation Officer. No person may be 3.1.7. Perform the task or activity;
designated as the Isolation Officer for a piece of 3.1.8. Inspect & restore normalcy - inspect the work area
equipment unless s/he has been trained, assessed and and remove isolation after job completion;
authorized by the respective business unit as competent to 3.1.9. Startup - ensure the safety of all.
carry out the isolation procedure for that piece of plant or 3.2. Where it is necessary to work on live equipment for the
equipment. Tests for voltage, for example, require purposes of commissioning, testing, sampling and
competency in electrical work as outlined in the electrical adjustments, such work shall be carried out in
standard. accordance with a written procedure;
2.2. Isolation Officer's responsibility
3.3. Where there is a need for work to extend over multiple
2.2.1. Ensure safe start/stop & execution in accordance with shifts or where there are large numbers of people
the isolation procedure before any work begins; involved in the work, such as large maintenance &
2.2.2. The Isolation Officer’s lock and tag must be the first shutdown jobs or projects, a project isolation procedure
to be applied and the last to be removed; can be implemented. This procedure must include
2.2.3. The Isolation Officer’s lock must be a master series requirements that 1) personal locks shall be used for each
lock since it will remain on the plant or equipment person working on the project; 2) an Isolation Officer’s
when handing over to subsequent shifts and to control lock is in place; and 3) the control lock cannot be
another designated Isolation Officer; unlocked without all personal locks first being removed.
2.2.4. Where isolation involves only one person on jobs to be 4. Review
completed within a single shift and where it is not
4.1. For further details on isolation refer to the Vedanta
appropriate for a master series lock to be utilized, the
Guidance notes and the respective business unit
person must be an Isolation Officer and s/he must apply
isolation manual and procedures;
his/her personal lock and identification tag;
4.2. Business units are required to comply with all relevant
2.2.5. After locking and tagging, the Isolation Officer must local laws and regulations on isolation standards
clear the area of personnel before a trial step to along with Vedanta Isolation Standard.
ensure that the plant or equipment has been
isolated, achieved zero energy state & verified;
2.2.6. An Isolation Officer shall confirm effectiveness of
controls associated with the live work area; Andrew Lewin
including controls to prevent unauthorized access. Group Head HSE & Sustainability