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:

a.The person designated to prepare the tag-out is normally the ships force petty officer in charge of the work This person fills out and signs the record sheet and prepares the tags.

b. A tag-out record sheet is prepared for a specific purpose. All tags used for that purpose are listed on an initial record sheet and additional sheets as necessary. The stated purpose may include several work items. Each record sheet is assigned a log serial number in sequence, from the index/audit record. Log serial numbers are also used to identify all tags associated with a given purpose. Each tag is given its own sequential number as it is entered in the record sheet. For example, tag 7-16 would be the sixteenth tag issued on a single record sheet with the log serial number seven. To differentiate among tag-out logs, a prefixed system, approved by the commanding officer, is used with the log serial numbers.

c.The tag-out record sheet includes References to other documents that apply. Some examples are work permits, work procedures, repair directives, reentry control forms, test forms, and rip-out forms. Certain information should be gotten either from reference documents or from the personnel requesting the work Some examples are the reasons for tag-out, the hazards involved, the amplifying instructions, and the work necessary to clear the tags. This information should be detailed enough to give watch standers a clear understanding of the purpose of, and necessity for, each tag-out action.

d. Use enough tags to completely isolate the system, piping, or circuit being worked on. Be sure you use tags to prevent the operation of a system or component from all the stations that could exercise control. Use system diagrams or circuit schematics to determine the number of tags needed. Indicate the location and position/condition of each tagged item by an easily identifiable means. Some examples are MS-l, STBD TG BKR, OPEN, SHUT, BLANK FLANGE INSTALLED.

e. After you have filled out the tags and the tag-out record sheet, have a second person make an independent check of the tag-out coverage and usage. That person should use appropriate circuit schematics and system diagrams. The second person verities the completeness of the tag-out action by signing the record sheet.

f. The authorizing officer then reviews the record sheet and tags for adequacy and accuracy. When satisfied, the officer signs the record sheet and the tags.

(1) If a tag-out is requested by a repair activity, the repair activity representative (shop supervisor or equivalent) must sign the tag-out record sheet. This shows that the repair activity is satisfied with the completeness of the tag-out. Verified tags alert all personnel that the repair activity must approve the removal of the tags.

(2) If the repair activity representatives concurrence is not required, this space on the record sheet need not be filled in.

(3) On ships with DCC, the authorizing officer annotates the tag-out record sheet in the upper right-hand corner with the words DCC notified, and then initials it. This ensures that DCC knows the extent of the tag-out and the status of the material condition of the unit.

(4) The authorizing officer then authorizes installation of the tags.

g.The person attaching the tag must make sure the item tagged is in the prescribed position or condition. If the item is not in the prescribed position or condition, he or she must get permission from the authorizing officer to change it to the prescribed condition or position. As each tag is attached and the position or condition is verified, the person attaching the tag must sign the tag and initial the record sheet.

NOTE: Only a qualified person from the ships force may position equipment and affix tags and labels. The tags should be attached so they will be noticed by anyone who wants to operate the component. Tags must NOT be attached to breaker covers or valve caps that may be removed later.

h. After all tags have been attached, a second person must independently verify proper item positioning and tag attachment, sign each tag, and initial the record sheet. If repair activity concurrence is required, a repair activity representative must witness the verification, sign the tags, and initial the tag-out record sheet.

NOTE: Only qualified ships force personnel may perform the second check of tag installation.

i. Sometimes additional tags are required because of added work on an existing tag-out record sheet. In that case, the person making the change must handle the DANGER and CAUTION tags and tag-out record sheet as follows:

(1) Ensure that the purpose of the existing record sheet remains unchanged by the new work and its associated tags.

(2)Fill out the tag-out record sheet to reflect the added work. Prepare whatever additional tags are required. Review the reason for the tag-out, the hazards involved, the amplifying instructions, and the work necessary to clear the tags. Do this on the existing tag-out record sheet to ensure that it reflects the old work and the new work being added to the record sheet. After completing the review of the record sheet, have the petty officer in charge of the work sign the first coverage check block next to the added work item.

(3) Number each tag added to the existing tag-out sequentially, beginning with the number after the last number in the original tag-out. Annotate the serial numbers of the new tags next to the associated new work item on the record sheet. Enter the updated number of effective tags at the top of the record sheet by crossing through the previous number and writing in the new number.

(4)After the new tags and the tag-out record sheet have been filled out and signed by the petty officer in charge of the work, have a second person make a review. The second person makes an independent check of the tag coverage and usage by referring to appropriate schematics and diagrams. This person should sign the record sheet in the block for the new work item to show satisfaction with the completeness of the tag-out actions. This includes both the additional and the previously issued tags.

(5)Request that the authorizing officer and, when required, the repair activity representative review the entire record sheet and the new tags for completeness and accuracy. They should then sign their respective blocks for the added work item. The authorizing officer will then issue the tags.

j. Do not allow work to start until all the DANGER tags required for the protection of personnel or equipment have been attached according to established procedures.

2. REMOVING DANGER AND CAUTION TAGS. Remove these tags immediately after the situation requiring the tag-out has been corrected. As each work item identified on the tag-out record sheet is completed, delete it from the tag-out record sheet. Completed work items listed in the Operations/Work Items Included in Tag-Out section of the record sheet must be signed off. This is done by the authorizing officer (and repair activity representative, when required) in the designated signature block. All DANGER tags must be properly cleared and removed before a system or portion of a system can be operationally tested and restored to service. To remove individual tags, the authorizing officer must ensure that the remaining tags provide adequate protection for work, testing, or operations that still remain to be performed. Tags may only be removed following the signed authorization of the authorizing officer. When a tag-out action was initiated by a repair activity, an authorized representative of that repair activity must concur that the job is complete. A shop supervisor or equivalent must sign the tag-out record sheet before the tags may be removed. As the tags are removed, the date/time of removal must be initialed. Ditto marks are not allowed. All tags must be returned immediately to the authorizing officer. This officer then requires a system lineup or a lineup check Tags that have been removed must be destroyed after they have been delivered to the authorizing officer. All tags associated with each specific tag-out action must be destroyed and the system or component returned to normal operating (shutdown) condition. The authorizing officer must then certify these actions by entering the date and time when the system lineup or lineup check was completed. In a case where a system or component restoration was performed according to a specific document, reference to that document is made in the Condition Prescribed By block Inapplicable portions of the statements on the record sheet are lined out and initialed when a valve lineup check is not required or when the system is not returned to a normal condition. The authorizing officer must also enter the date and time cleared on the appropriate line of the tag-out index/audit record. The completed record sheets must be removed from the effective section of the log and placed in the completed section, They will be reviewed and removed by a designated officer. On ships having a DCC, the authorizing officer must notify DCC that the tag-out has been cleared. To complete the process, the authorizing officer must annotate the completed tag-out record sheet in the lower right-hand corner on the reverse side with the words DCC notified, and then initial it.

a. When any component is tagged more than once, the DANGER tag takes precedence over all other tags. All DANGER tags must be removed and cleared before the equipment may be operationally tested or operated.

b. A missing or damaged tag is reissued by indicating on the tag-out record sheet, on the line corresponding to the damaged or missing tag, that the tag was missing or damaged and that a replacement was issued. The new tag is issued using the next number in the tag-out record sheet. The authorizing officer should sign the tag-out record sheet to authorize the clearing of damaged or missing tags and to authorize their replacement.

3. ISSUING AND REMOVING LABELS. Labels are issued and removed in a manner similar to that required for tags.

a. The authorizing officer authorizes the use of labels by signing the label and the instrument log. When labels are required for reactor plant systems and reactor plant support systems, the repair activity representative concurs by signing on the label and in the instrument log next to the signature of the authorizing officer.

b. Second check signatures are not required on the label or on the instrument log.

c. When a label like one of those shown in figures l-8 and l-9 is assigned, it must be affixed to the exterior surface of the affected instrument, so operators can easily determine the status of the instrument.

d. A different procedure is used for installed instruments not associated with propulsion plants on nuclear-powered ships and for portable test and radiac equipment. In these cases, the labels shown in figures l-8 and l-9 may be replaced by those affixed by a qualified instrument repair or calibration facility.