Lockout-tagout (LOTO) or lock and tag is a safety procedure which is often used to make sure that harmful machines are properly shut off and are not able to be start up again before the completion of maintenance or repair work.
- A lockout uses a lock to hold an energy isolation device in a safe position and prevents energy to flow to a machine or equipment.
- Tagout is when a tag is placed on a piece of equipment to indicate that the equipment being controlled may not be operated until the tagout device is removed.
OSHA Lockout/Tagout Regulation
The OSHA standard for The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout), Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations ( CFR ) Part 1910.147, addresses the practices and procedures necessary to disable machinery or equipment, thereby preventing the release of hazardous energy while employees perform servicing and maintenance activities. The standard outlines measures for controlling hazardous energies—electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, and other energy sources.
The lockout/tagout standard establishes the employer’s responsibility to protect employees from hazardous energy sources on machines and equipment during service and maintenance.
Hazardous Energy Types
When machines or equipment are being prepared for service or maintenance, the machines or equipment can contain “hazardous energy” that can cause harm to the service or maintenance person and other people in the area.
Hazardous energy, or any type of energy that can be released and might harm a person, can be one of the following types:
- Chemical
- Electrical
- Hydraulic
- Mechanical
- Pneumatic
- Thermal
- Other sources of energy
Six Steps of LOTO Safety & Lockout/Tagout Procedures
A lockout/tagout procedure should include the following six steps:
- Preparation
- Shutdown
- Isolation
- Lockout/tagout
- Stored energy check
- Isolation verification
Types of Lockout/Tagout Devices
There are a range of Lockout/Tagout products, including lockout devices and tagout devices which will secure hazardous energy sources:
- Lockout Cables with Hasps & Locks
- Lockout Group Boxes
- Lockout Kits & Stations
- Lockout Padlocks
- Lockout Plug Devices
- Lockout Tags
- Lockout/Tagout Signs & Posters
Training Requirements
The standard lists three different types of employees and three different levels of training.
Authorized Employee: the persons who perform maintenance or repairs on equipment covered by the standard.
• can begin lockout/tagout program;
• must know how the equipment or system is powered;
• can recognize hazardous energy sources; and
• could cut off the equipment from the energy sources and turn it off.
Affected Employees: people whose job requires them to operate machinery or equipment that is under lockout/tagout.
Other Employees: those who work in the area where the work is being performed but are not involved in the maintenance or servicing process.
• must be able to recognize a piece of equipment under lockout/tagout; and
• know not to get in the way of that process.
Spencer-SHE has been providing Safety, Health, and Environmental Compliance Guidance since 1980. Once a year an employer must check how well their program works. This ensures that everyone is following the energy control rules correctly. Retraining will help with any problems. Our team can evaluate your current program and retrain employees when required.
Contact us here to help you to develop and maintain a safe and healthy workforce.
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Photo: Microsoft Stock