The idea behind lockout/tagout is, at its core, to maintain safety within a working environment. LOTO procedures are used purely to enhance the safety of those performing routine essential maintenance, and a correctly enforced programme could be the different between saving lives and ending them.
But when exactly should lockout/tagout be used?
What you firstly need to know and remember is that lockout/tagout is a legal requirement whenever an employee may be exposed to potentially hazardous energy. This doesn’t just mean energy in the form of electricity – but also refers to multiple other energy types which could power machinery.
Not adhering to lockout/tagout procedures can incur massive penalties from governing bodies, and can result in extreme injuries and even the death of maintenance workers.
The second thing you need to remember about lockout/tagout is that it applicable when performing maintenance that falls under any of the following categories:
- Construction
- Installation
- Setup
- Adjustment
- Inspection
- Modification
- Lubrication
- Tool Changes
- Cleaning
- Clearing Jams
In short, whenever anything is being done to machinery that can incur a hazard when energy is present is eligible for lockout/tagout. By isolating an energy source before the maintenance goes ahead you ensure that energy at no point is distributed to the machinery, thus enabling maintenance teams to work comfortably and – above all – safely.
Energy Sources
As we said previously, not all energy is distributed as electricity. Although electrical power is eligible for lockout, there are many other forms of energy that can be supplied to dangerous machinery and it is of the utmost importance that these energy sources are locked out, all excess energy is removed and rigorous checks are made to ensure the safety of employees.
There are many energy sources types, including:
- Electrical
- Pneumatic
- Hydraulic Pump
- Hydraulic Line
- Water
- Gas
- Chemical or Coolant
- Steam
In addition, energy sources can also be present as stored rather than continuous energy. Under the lockout/tagout maintenance procedure teams should be aware of all forms of stored energy that are used to power a piece of machinery and they should take steps to remove this stored energy from the machine before any maintenance can go ahead.
Conclusion
Always remember: use lockout/tagout any time there is a risk of injury because of the presence of any of the hazardous energy sources outlined above.
