Lockout Tagout Procedure For Energy Control Explained

A lockout tagout procedure is used in industrial and manufacturing settings as part of an energy control program to ensure that machines or equipment is safely shut down and unable to be restarted while maintenance or repair work is being carried out. The procedure involves using a lock and a tag to prevent the release of hazardous energy in machinery or equipment from being energized or powered on while it is being serviced.

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Locks and tags are energy-isolating devices. Lockout tagout devices are designed to control various types of hazardous energy in the form of stored energy in equipment such as a circuit breaker. A hazardous energy lockout is a specific procedural step taken by qualified electrical workers. 

The lock is usually a padlock that is placed on the machinery's power switch or control panel to physically prevent it from being turned on. The tag is a warning label attached to the lock, indicating that the machinery or equipment is undergoing maintenance and should not be operated.

By controlling hazardous energy, LOTO aims to prevent workers from accidentally coming into contact with energized machinery or equipment, which can cause serious injury or even death. In addition, by locking and tagging out the machinery or equipment, workers are protected from unexpected startup and can safely carry out maintenance and repair work.

LOTO procedures are typically governed by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations in the United States, and similar regulations exist in other countries. Therefore, it is important for workers to receive proper training in LOTO procedures and to follow them carefully to prevent accidents and ensure a safe work environment.

The lockout tagout loto procedure can vary depending on the specific machinery or equipment being serviced but generally follows a set of steps to ensure the safe shutdown and lockout of the machinery or equipment. Here is a general procedure for a LOTO:

Preparation: The worker responsible for servicing the machinery or equipment should gather the necessary tools, equipment, and lockout devices, such as locks, hasps, tags, and lockout boxes.

Notify affected employees: The properly trained worker should inform other workers and supervisors in the area that the machinery or equipment is being serviced and that a lockout tagout procedure is in place.

Shut down: The worker should use the standard shut-down procedure to shut down the machinery or equipment.

Isolate energy sources: The worker should identify and isolate all energy sources that could potentially start the machinery or equipment. This can include electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical energy sources.

Lock out: The worker should place a lockout device, such as a padlock, on the energy-isolating device to prevent it from being accidentally turned on. This should be done for each energy source identified in step 4.

Release stored energy: The worker should release any stored energy in the machinery or equipment. This can include bleeding pressure from hydraulic or pneumatic systems or discharging capacitors.

Test: The worker should test the machinery or equipment to ensure it cannot be started. This can involve turning on the machinery or equipment using the normal start-up procedures.

Tag out: The worker should attach a tag to the lockout device indicating the reason for the lockout and the name of the worker who installed it.

Start servicing: The worker can now safely begin servicing the machinery or piece of equipment.

Removal: Once servicing is complete, the worker should remove the lockout devices and restore energy to the machinery or equipment.

It is important for workers to receive proper lockout tagout procedure training and to follow it carefully to prevent accidents and ensure a safe work environment.

The lockout tagout procedure can vary depending on the specific machinery or equipment being serviced but generally follows a set of steps to ensure the safe shutdown and lockout of the machinery or equipment. For example, here is a general procedure for a LOTO:

Preparation: The worker responsible for servicing the machinery or equipment should gather the necessary tools, equipment, and lockout devices, such as locks, hasps, tags, and lockout boxes.

Notify affected employees: The worker should inform other workers and supervisors in the area that the machinery or equipment is being serviced and that a lockout tagout procedure is in place.

Shut down: The worker should use the standard shut-down procedure to shut down the machinery or equipment.

Isolate energy sources: The worker should identify and isolate all energy sources that could potentially start the machinery or equipment. This can include electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical energy sources.

Lock out: The worker should place a lockout device, such as a padlock, on the energy-isolating device to prevent it from being accidentally turned on. This should be done for each energy source identified in step 4.

Release stored energy: The worker should release any stored energy in the machinery or equipment. This can include bleeding pressure from hydraulic or pneumatic systems or discharging capacitors.

Test: The worker should test the machinery or equipment to ensure it cannot be started. This can involve turning on the machinery or equipment using the normal start-up procedures.

Tag out: The worker should attach a tag to the lockout device indicating the reason for the lockout and the name of the worker who installed it.

Start servicing: The worker can now safely begin servicing the machinery or equipment.

Removal: Once servicing is complete, the worker should remove the lockout devices and restore energy to the machinery or equipment.