Industrial equipment and machinery are often large and complex, and several people from different trades may be involved when equipment is shut down for servicing, maintenance or repair. It is essential that machinery remains shut off and stationary while the work is being carried out.
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) is one part of an energy control programme that employers establish to protect employees from the unexpected start-up of machinery and equipment or the release of hazardous energy during servicing and maintenance.
What Are the Legal Requirements for Businesses?
Industrial equipment and machinery are typically large and complex, and multiple people from different trades are commonly involved when equipment is shut down to be serviced, maintained or repaired. It is essential for everyone concerned that the machinery is shut off and kept still while the task is being done.
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) safety training refers to one part of an energy control programme that employers must establish for employees working in an organisation. This training provides procedures to safeguard workers from the unexpected start-up of machinery and equipment or the release of hazardous energy during service or maintenance.
Key purpose: Prevent unexpected energisation, start-up or release of stored energy while machinery or equipment is being serviced or maintained.
6 Steps to Proper Lockout/Tagout
A proper LOTO process follows six essential stages. Each stage contributes to controlling hazardous energy and protecting employees involved in maintenance and servicing activities.
1. Preparation
The first step to completing proper lockout/tagout is preparing the equipment to be powered off. During this preparation phase, an authorised or approved employee must conduct extensive research to understand all possible hazards associated with hazardous energy. It is essential to identify and monitor the risks.
2. Shutdown
Once the planning is complete, shut down machinery or equipment for maintenance. During this step, an authorised employee should inform other affected employees, even if they do not have a role in maintenance or service.
3. Isolation
The next step of the Lockout/Tagout procedure is to isolate the machine or equipment from any energy source. This can include turning off power at a breaker or shutting a valve.
4. Lockout
Once the machine or equipment has been isolated from its energy source, the authorised employee attaches a lockout/tagout device to the energy-isolating device so that it stays in the safe position and cannot be moved to an unsafe condition except by the person who performed the lockout.
The tag represents additional information, such as the name of the person who performed the lockout.
5. Check
It is essential to check for hazardous energy that has been stored inside the equipment, or residual energy. Any residual or stored energy that poses a risk must be eliminated, disconnected, restricted or rendered harmless.
6. Verification
The final phase in lockout/tagout safety is verifying that the machines have been locked out, shut down or turned off, and that the hazardous energy source has been removed. Check the work once more and make sure the machine or equipment can be used safely before moving further.
Who Needs This LOTO Training?
LOTO training is relevant to employees whose work may involve machinery, equipment servicing or exposure to hazardous energy, including:
Supervisors
Contractors
Assembly line workers
Forklift operators
Machinists and welders
Authorised employees who perform equipment servicing
Importance of LOTO Training
Helps protect employees from the release of hazardous energy while servicing or maintaining machinery and equipment.
Provides basic principles of safe work practices in high-voltage environments, including work around machinery and electrical power circuits.
Can help increase company benefits and reduce downtime and costs associated with fixing machinery.
Our Recent Projects
LOTO In-Company Training
Green World Group delivered a dynamic in-company face-to-face training session on Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) to delegates of Amazon in Rajasthan.
Why Green World Group?
Green World Group has been actively engaged in training employees across various organisations. We provide Lockout/Tagout Safety Awareness Training through qualified and experienced instructors with expertise in their fields.
We also provide various in-company training programmes for corporate employees, including work at height, fire safety, risk assessment, confined space and other consultancy services.
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