Your guide to lockout/Tagout procedures

Working on industrial equipment can be very dangerous. It is important that all safety precautions are taken, and legal guidance is followed to ensure the safety and security of everyone working in the area. One way of doing so is by implementing lockout/tagout (LOTO) safety.

LOTO refers specifically to procedures that ensure equipment is shut down and inoperable until work is completed.

What are the different types of energy?

When we say an energy source is switched off, what exactly does it mean? There are many different types of energy that can potentially be dangerous to workers while maintenance is being performed. You can use lock-out tag-out equipment to help improve the safety of your workplace.

Electrical – one of the most common types of energy found in most workplaces, electricity poses a hazard as there is a chance that it will restart the equipment, risking the chance of injury.

Chemical – chemical reactions and decomposition pose the risk of starting uncontrolled reactions, fires, burns and explosions.

Thermal – found in machines that deal with hot water and steam, thermal energy presents as a risk through direct, accidental contact.

Hydraulic – used to power machinery such as pumps and forklifts. It presents itself as a hazard because any hot hydraulic oil that escapes can do disastrous damage.

Kinetic – this is the energy of machinery or equipment that is in motion and could cause someone to get caught in, on or between pieces of moving equipment.

Accidental exposure to any one of these can cause serious bodily harm, or even lead to death. That’s why ensuring you use the correct safety procedures on your site.

How does lockout tagout equipment work?

Implementing a lockout/tagout procedure in your workplace will help prevent any contact with a hazard while performing maintenance repairs. The lockout/tagout procedure happens in steps:

1. Preparation: workers are made aware that a lockout procedure is about to take place.
2. Shutdown: the machine or equipment is shut down correctly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Isolation: after shutting down has occurred all the energy sources should now be isolated.
4. Lockout/tagout: lockout devices can then be applied, and the machine should be inspected for any remaining movement.
5. Stored energy check: now comes the try-out phase, where the restart of a machine is attempted. If the procedure has been implemented correctly the restart should fail.
6. Isolation verification: this is to double-check everything has been isolated from its source of power and is locked out. An authorised employee verifies the machine has been properly isolated and de-energised.

Any work or maintenance on the machine or device can now be safely carried out.

Once the work is complete the lockout devices can be removed, and the equipment can be safely restarted.