The extensive use of heavy machinery and electrical systems in industrial operations necessitates safe and persistent procedures to follow, especially in preventing the unknowing release of hazardous energy. OSHA’s Lockout Tagout (commonly abbreviated as LOTO) rules set clear standards to disable machinery and equipment, isolating energy sources to prevent unintentional activation of equipment.
Making sure equipment remains properly shut down when not in use has multiple benefits. Following lockout tagout procedures keeps machines safe from damage caused by improper shutdowns, while also ensuring workers will not be injured by unexpected interactions with hazardous energy and moving parts. These procedures are also enforced by OSHA, meaning that companies that do not comply risk being charged with regulatory fines.
How To Implement Lockout Tagout
To ensure machinery is properly shut down, the following steps should be implemented:
1. Pre-Work Planning: Prior to maintenance, ensure that all energy sources are properly identified and documented for planning purposes. Electrical energy should be included alongside hydraulic, pneumatic and thermal energy sources.
2. Raise Awareness To Employees: Workers should be made aware in advance of any machinery shutdowns, just to ensure that they are prepared!
3. Shut Down Equipment: Standard shutdown procedures should be carried out by trained workers.
4. Isolate Energy Sources: After equipment shutdown procedures, ensure that equipment is disconnected from all energy sources for full deactivation.
5. Lockout: Put applicable lockout devices on energy-isolating devices, with only authorized personnel being able to remove them.
6. Tagout: Tags should be added onto each lockout device, with a clear warning, an explanation of why the device was locked out and the authorized personnel responsible.
7. Verify Equipment Shutdown: Have a competent person inspect the device and ensure that the energy sources are properly disconnected. This ensures that the device won’t be accidentally reactivated.
8. Maintenance Begins: Once the device is confirmed to be properly shut down, maintenance can begin.
9. Restore to Normal Operations: Once maintenance in complete, authorized personnel can remove the lockout tagout equipment and restore energy to reactivate the machine.
10. Test the Machinery: Make sure the machinery is operating smoothly by having workers test it out.
Training Employees and Raising Awareness
Effectively carrying out these steps requires informing workers through extensive, comprehensive training. Such training should instill the importance of LOTO procedures and the proper methods of conducting those procedures. Reviewing and updating the procedures as needed is crucial, as equipment and regulations surrounding them change frequently.
