What is BG10?
BG10, formally titled Guidance on the Safe Isolation of Plant and Equipment, was published by the Combustion Engineering Association (CEA) to support safe working practices across a broad range of industrial sectors.
The guidance outlines the responsibilities of plant owners, duty holders, supervisors and maintenance personnel to ensure isolations are planned, executed and verified correctly. It highlights the steps required to eliminate or control hazards arising from electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal and chemical energy sources.
What does BG10 cover?
BG10 provides practical recommendations on:
Planning and Risk Assessment
- Identifying hazards from multiple energy sources
- Assessing stored or residual energy (pressure, heat, chemicals, rotation)
- Defining isolation points and safe access routes
- Developing isolation plans and permits to work
Isolation of Energy Sources
- Electrical isolation: switching off, locking off, proving dead
- Mechanical isolation: securing moving parts, removing drive mechanisms
- Pressure & hydraulic isolation: venting pressure, locking valves, blocking actuators, double block and bleed (HSG253) steam, compressed gasses, hydraulics etc.)
- Thermal isolation: cooling, draining, and confirming safe temperatures
- Chemical isolation: blanking lines, double block and bleed, purging
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Procedures
- Use of locks, tags and isolation devices
- Managing common isolation points and shared equipment
- Responsibility assignment and control of lock keys
- Verification before work begins
Communication & Control
- Permit-to-work procedures
- Contractor management
- Signage and communication with operators and supervisors
- Monitoring active isolations and maintaining oversight
Verification and Testing
- Proving electrical systems are dead
- Confirming zero energy state for pressure, heat and stored energy
- Testing isolation effectiveness before work begins
Restoring Plant to Service
- Visual inspection and area checks
- Removal of locks and tags
- Controlled restart procedures
- Post-maintenance verification and safety checks
Training & Competency
- Competence requirements for isolating authorities and authorised persons
- Practical training in hazard identification and LOTO devices
- Regular refresher training and competence assessments
Why BG10 matters
Incorrect or incomplete isolation remains one of the most common causes of serious industrial incidents. Uncontrolled energy release can lead to:
- electric shock
- entrapment or crushing
- burns from steam, hot liquids or hot surfaces
- sudden movement of machinery
- chemical exposure
- explosion or fire risk
BG10 provides a comprehensive framework that helps organisations eliminate these risks and demonstrate that safe systems of work are in place.
Following BG10 helps duty holders protect workers, maintain compliance and improve maintenance efficiency through clearly defined, auditable isolation processes.
Get in touch if you or your staff are interested in further training or equipment servicing to improve safety and efficiency.
Download the latest version of BG10
The current edition of BG10, Safe Isolation of Plant and Equipment, is available from CEA here.
At Dunphy, we support safe and compliant industrial operations across all sectors. Our training, technical support and advanced control systems help organisations maintain safe isolation practices and achieve high standards of operational safety.
If you need guidance on safe isolation procedures or compliance with BG10, our technical team is ready to help.
For more information, see our blogs on:
BG01: what’s new for steam boilers regulations?
BG02: what hot water boiler operators need to know?
BG03: safe operation of blowdown systems for industrial steam boilers
BG04: industrial boiler water treatmentÂ
BG05: safe design and operation of Biomass systems
BG06: safe operation of boiler feed water de-aeration systems
BG07: safe operation of thermal fluid systems
BG08: safe operation of temporary steam and hot water boilers