How to Stay Safe with Lockout/Tagout
The simplest procedures can save the most lives.
Compliance with lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures prevents an estimated 120 deaths and 50,000 injuries each year. Do you have a system for ensuring your workers are safe when operating on machinery? Before you perform maintenance on a panel or machine, learn how LOTO could prevent an incident in your facility.
WHY IS LOCKOUT/TAGOUT IMPORTANT
There are many ways to get hurt on a construction site. Coming in contact with a live conductor is one of the most dangerous. The LOTO process prevents people working on electrical equipment from being exposed to hazardous energy. Having a LOTO standard gives employees peace of mind because they can operate without the risk of someone re-energizing the system during maintenance.
Simply switching off a circuit at the main breaker is not reliable enough. Depending on the equipment, there can still be dangerous levels of hazardous energy. It is best to go upstream in the circuit to the next disconnecting means, disconnect the power there and apply your lockout device. It is also important to tag the lockout device, so other people know why the lock is there and do not try to remove it by force.
HOW ARE YOU STAYING UP TO DATE WITH LOCKOUT/TAGOUT
LOTO is the most cited OSHA regulation in U.S. manufacturing. As equipment evolves, LOTO procedures evolve with it. How are you keeping your LOTO standards up to date? If you are replacing a disconnect with a newer model, can you LOTO the same way you did before? It can be easy to fall behind and get careless with LOTO, but keeping employees safe has to be a priority. Performing a yearly audit of your LOTO procedures is good practice. Offering employees arc flash training is another great way to make sure everyone is on the same page and up to date with LOTO procedures.
WHAT ARE THE LOCKOUT/TAGOUT STEPS?
LOTO procedures might look slightly different at various locations, but these are some common steps:
- Notify employees of the equipment involved
- Shut down the equipment
- Remove stored energy
- Apply the lockout device and tag out
- Test to verify it is locked out
- Perform maintenance
- Remove the lockout device
WHO SHOULD KNOW THE LOCKOUT/TAGOUT PROCEDURES?
Maintenance staff and outside contractors performing maintenance in a plant need to know LOTO procedures. Not everyone does LOTO the same way. If there is a contractor working in a plant, the contractor and the on-site employer must inform each other of their LOTO procedures ahead of time. The on-site employer should then make sure their employees understand and adhere to the contractor’s standards
LOTO is not just an extra step in performing maintenance—it could help prevent a serious incident. If you are interested in learning more or training on how to properly LOTO, please reach out to your Van Meter sales representative or check out vanmeterinc.com/events (or email [email protected]) for available courses in your area.
