Lockout Tagout Safety Tips

Lockout tagout is an essential safety procedure that protects workers from injury while working on or near dangerous machinery or electrical circuits. Fortunately, we have compiled a list of our top tips to follow when working on dangerous equipment. 

But before we get into these tips, let’s ensure we have a good understanding of what it is exactly. 

What is Lockout Tagout?

To put it simply, lockout tagout, also known as LOTO, is a safety procedure used to ensure that dangerous machines and equipment are properly shut off and not accidentally restarted while maintenance or repair work is being performed. 

The sole purpose of LOTO is to therefore protect employees who are working on the machinery from the release of hazardous energy, such as mechanical. chemical, electrical, hydraulic, or thermal energy, that could cause serious injury or death.

Lockout Tagout and the Law

Although LOTO procedures are not specifically required by UK law, employers have a legal duty to ensure the health and safety of their employees, and this of course includes providing a safe working environment. 

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the primary legislation in the UK that sets out the general duties of employers to protect the health, safety, and welfare of their employees. This includes a duty to carry out risk assessments and take appropriate measures to eliminate any possible risks, such as implementing lockout tagout procedures.

In addition to this, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 require employers to ensure that work equipment is maintained and operated safely, and that necessary measures are taken to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery. Lockout tagout procedures can be an important part of meeting these requirements.

Here are 4 lockout tagout safety tips to ensure the safety of those working on dangerous equipment:

1. Provide Proper Training

First and foremost, it is absolutely crucial that all employees who are involved in LOTO procedures are properly trained and fully understand the importance of the procedure. 

Ensure your training program includes a detailed overview of the LOTO procedures, the hazards associated with the machinery, and the necessary steps workers must take to properly apply LOTO devices.

When providing the training, deliver it in a clear and easy to understand manner using a combination of classroom instruction, hands-on exercises, and demonstrations. You can also use visual aids such as videos, diagrams, and photographs to help workers understand. After the training has been delivered, test employees on their understanding of the LOTO procedures and their ability to properly apply LOTO devices. This can include written tests or practical exercises. We recommend a mixture of the two. 

Remember to keep records of the training provided to each employee, including the date of the training, the topics covered, and the results of any tests. 

2. Create and Enforce Machine-specific Written Procedures

Creating machine-specific written procedures for LOTO is an essential part of ensuring the safety of workers, and it is the duty of the employer to develop, document, train and enforce these procedures. Here are some tips to guide you when creating machine-specific written procedures:

• Identify the dangerous machines and equipment that require LOTO procedures– These can be identified based on their potential to release hazardous energy during maintenance, repair, or servicing.
  
• Conduct a hazard risk assessment– Conduct a hazard assessment of each machine to identify the specific types of hazardous energy and the energy isolation points.
  
• Develop the LOTO procedures: Develop machine-specific LOTO procedures that identify the steps to be taken to isolate and control hazardous energy, including the placement and removal of LOTO devices, and the verification of energy isolation.
  
• Review the procedures: Review and approve the LOTO procedures with input from affected employees, supervisors, and other stakeholders. Ensure that the procedures are clear, concise, and effective in controlling hazardous energy.

3. Release Stored Energy

In some cases, even after turning off all the operational control points, a machine can retain residual energy, which can be hazardous. This energy can be present in a number of forms, such as stored electrical energy in capacitors, springs under tension or residual hydraulic energy trapped in vessels, for example. If this is the case, the authorised employee is required to release or safely control the stored energy. 

4. Report Any Issues With the LOTO System

If employees detect an issue with the LOTO system, they must immediately inform their supervisor about the potential hazards that may arise because of this. Not only will this (hopefully) resolve safety concerns before accidents or injuries occur, but it will help identify areas for improvement. This continuous improvement can help to refine and improve the LOTO system over time, making it more effective in protecting workers from hazardous energy releases. 

Although it is the duty of the employer to provide a safe work environment, it is also the employees responsibility to maintain a safe workplace.

The Best Lockout Tagout Products

At Morsafe, we stock a range of quality lockout tagout products. 

1.Circuit Breaker & Isolator Kit

This circuit breaker & isolator kit is perfect for electricians and engineers who regularly work on applications where power is isolated via circuit breakers or electrical isolators. The kit includes 9 different types of breaker lock-outs which cover the majority of applications in today’s industry. More features of the kit include:

• 2 stainless steel lock-out hasps
• 2 individually keyed and numbered padlocks
• 1 pack of reusable tags
• 1 non permanent marker

2. Deluxe Lockout Kit

Supplied with a mini pouch with a handy belt loop, this deluxe lockout kit is ideal for larger scale electrical contractors. Key benefits include:

• Fuse lock device
• Multipurpose MCB lockout
• Main switch lockout
• 5 x MCB lockouts
• 5 x ‘Do not operate’ safety tags
• Mini pouch

3. Do Not Use This Ladder – Eyelet

This ‘do not use this ladder’ sign prevents the use of ladders that are unsafe and restricts access to unauthorised personnel. Key features include:

• Manufactured on durable PVC which can be rolled up neatly when not in use. 
• Covers up to 4 rungs. 
• Can be used both internally and externally.
• PVC Construction
• Brass Eyelets
• For Internal & External Use
• UV & Weather-Resistant

Discover more lockout safety products here, and to hear more from our experts, checkout our educational blog page.

Written by Kate for Morsafe Supplies.