Lockout and Tagout (LOTO) refers to certain procedures and guidelines that help protect employees from the unexpected start-up, movement, activation, energising, energy release etc. of machinery, equipment, plant, and systems during service, maintenance, or inspection activities.
With all their advantages, most machines can’t tell the difference between human flesh and other substances and can badly hurt employees if not operated with pre-defined protocols. On the other hand, staff who maintain and operate equipment are often not protected by safety guards because their job requires them to bypass them. This is where the Lockout Tagout System comes in very handy.
Standard Lockout/Tagout Protocols that Save Lives
- Arrange for the shutdown: This is about informing workers that repairs would take place during lockout/tagout. For the machinery that will be serviced, the authorised employee may check the threats and Lockout/Tagout procedures.
- Shutdown Equipment: The authorised staff member will shut down the equipment in accordance with the company’s and/or the required specifications.
- Isolate Hardware/Machine: Using the equipment-specific Lockout-Tagout technique, detach the machine from dangerous energy sources.
- Locks and labels: Apply a lockout device, such as a padlock, blank flanges, or bolted slip blinds to keep equipment in a safe (energy-isolating) position. Then, place an isolation tag on the device with the authorised employee name who performed the lockout. Pulling a fuse or flipping a circuit breaker is no substitute for locking out!
- Release/Block Saved Power: Release saved energy from the Lockout-Tagout-identified stored energy risks such as releasing coils, covering elevated parts that may fall, preventing moving parts, draining liquids, venting gases, and so on.
- Check for Machinery Isolation: Make sure that all personnel are out of the building, that all locking mechanisms are in operation, and that the equipment is disconnected. After that, try a standard restart to ensure that the machinery does not turn on and install a Do Not Operate Tag.
Who Is Authorised To Execute LOTO Safety?
LOTO can only be used by registered employees of your business. To be an authorized employee, they must be educated on the company’s LOTO system. Identifying the really risky energy sources in the building, determining the form and severity of energy present in the facility, and isolating and monitoring dangerous energy.
All staff who handle equipment or machinery that will be maintained or serviced during LOTO, or who work in a place where LOTO will be used, are also affected and need instruction on how the system works. They should be educated on the function of LOTO as well as how to do LOTO processes. They must also never proceed to reboot or reenergise locked out or tagged out machinery.
What steps does your company take to ensure employees follow a thorough lockout/tagout procedure? For a complete range of lockout/tagout kits and tools, visit our complete range at https://www.southland.com.au/site-safety-environmental/lockout-tagout.
