Lockout/Tagout
by Dr. Isabel Perry,
“The Safety Doctor”
(531 Words)
Failure to turn off the power before servicing equipment is
the primary cause of workplace injuries. Workers are seriously injured or killed because they do not follow
safety procedures. Industry has designed
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) programs, which ensure that all potential sources of
energy are disconnected before repair, cleaning, clearing, maintenance or any
other action that places a person or a part of their body in harm’s way.
The source of energy that most people think about first is electricity. You can’t see it, taste it, touch it, or
smell it, but it is there, and one careless move can cause serious injury. There
are many other energy sources:
¨
Chemical energy released during chemical
reactions, including pressure releases
¨
Thermal energy caused by steam and heated
pressurized systems
¨
Mechanical energy such as a coiled spring
¨
Hydraulic or vacuum or pneumatic pressure from
systems that have been energized
¨
Kinetic energy, created by a large object moving
down a hill
Equipment might have more than one type of energy, for
example:
An electric motor - electrical
Pressurized steam lines – pneumatic and thermal
Pistons – mechanical
Lockout/Tagout involves two steps, identifying all the
energy sources for a piece of equipment, and then securing the equipment so
that all energy sources are turned off before the equipment is worked on.
Identifying energy sources:
¨
Is there someone knowledgeable about the
equipment at the facility?
¨
Do you have the manufacturer’s information?
Securing a piece of equipment:
¨
The best method is the “lock and key” which
makes it impossible for someone to start a piece of equipment by accident.
¨
Place a tag on the equipment noting that it
shouldn’t be used. This is unreliable
because the tag can be removed.
¨
Make sure that everyone knows the procedure for
each piece of equipment, where the keys or tags are and where to return them
when finished.
¨
DO NOT accept anyone’s word that the
equipment is ready to work on; always check for yourself before you begin work.
Performing Lockout/Tagout
¨
Develop a detailed plan for performing the
lockout – step by step
¨
Make sure that all energy sources are identified
¨
Determine what steps are necessary to shut down
each energy source
¨
Gather all supplies together
¨
Make sure that everyone is clear of the
equipment
¨
Isolate the energy sources:
o
Block
moving parts
o
Bleed
or drain lines
¨
Disconnect electricity
¨
Make sure that everyone is out of the way and
try to restart the equipment
¨
Train everyone on these procedure, from managers
to housekeeping
Restarting the equipment:
¨
Make sure that everyone is out of the way
¨
Make sure that no tools have been left close to
or in the equipment
¨
If you can’t see a piece of equipment when you
need to restart it, make an announcement or sound an alarm
¨
Make sure all guards and safety devices are in
place.
Avoid serious workplace injuries by taking responsibility to
make sure that safety procedures are in place and that these procedures are
understood and followed by everyone in the work area. One moment of carelessness could cause a
lifetime of suffering!
Dr. Isabel Perry is
an internationally-known safety expert, motivational speaker, author, and
safety educator. Based in
Orlando
,
Florida
, she can be reached at 407-291-1209 or via e-mail at
[email protected]