What exactly is Lockout Tagout?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a US federal government agency that was created to ensure safe and healthy working conditions for workers. Responsible for ensuring that safety procedures, documentation, & required conditions are maintained in various work environments, OSHA's mission is to prevent work injuries, illnesses, and deaths. Among these procedures is Lockout Tagout. But what does Lockout Tagout exactly mean, and why is it so important?

Definition

Lockout/Tagout, LOTO or the control of hazardous energy is a set of procedures that safeguards workers from hazardous energy releases. Lockout/Tagout is enforced to make sure the workers are protected from the unexpected startup of machinery, or the release of hazardous energy during servicing and maintenance.

LOCKOUT

OSHA describes the best practices & procedures needed to disable machinery or equipment to prevent hazardous energy release per industry, however, it is important to note that Lockout/Tagout programs are made by the company, not by OSHA. This means employers must write and implement a custom Lockout/Tagout program tailored to their specific facility and equipment. Each machine should have its own set of procedures, and it's the company's responsibility to document the unique step-by-step shutdown instructions for each piece of machinery, as well as train workers on how to use locks, tags, and isolation devices correctly. From here, these energy control procedures should be reviewed at least once a year.

While OSHA does not write specific procedures, they do offer many general templates & educational material to help employers build compliant programs available here.

Standard Lockout Procedures include:

1. Identifying potential hazardous energy sources
2. De-energizing these energy sources
3. Applying locks and tags to prevent unintentional startup during work
4. And testing the system to make sure all energy sources are de-energized

TAGOUT

Tagout is included as part of the lockout procedure, as a means to inform others in your work area what work is being done. This is done by labeling or including tags at every point where power, electricity or hazardous energy can be supplied or restored to the equipment or circuit. These tags should include a clear warning statement, the name of the authorized employee who placed the tag, their contact details, the date and time the lock was applied, as well as a brief explanation about the maintenance or service work being done.

GROUP LOCKOUT

Group lockout/tagout is used when multiple maintenance workers must work on the same machine at the same time. Although they may be working simultaneously, each person must have their own lockout/tagout procedures, tags, locks, and devices to ensure no machine starts up or releases energy, while another maintenance worker works on the machine. Since lockout tagout varies by company and industry, there may be special procedures, such as a buddy system, used when testing for an energy source where verification of the energy is far from the source itself (e.g. a breaker box outside of a facility that powers a machine inside the facility).

Why is it Important?

Lockout tagout procedures help prevent unexpected startup of machinery, or accidental releases of hazardous energy. Having a strong LOTO program ensures all workers stay safe while maintaining machines, as well as inform non-maintenance workers why something may be locked out.

As part of our mission to keep peace of mind, ABUS offers safety devices, locks, tags, & custom kits for your needs to make sure employees stay safe. Offering unique colors on our locks, with in-house custom engraving options, various key systems and fast response times, we're sure to have the needs for you or your facility to stay safe.

Want to learn more about Lockout Tagout? Here are some additional resources:

OSHA Lockout/Tagout Program Examples

Lockout Tagout Awareness

Interested in bulk ordering custom engraved LOTO padlocks or custom kits? Reach out to us using the form below!

Compliance note: ABUS products can support an employer’s energy-control program, but products alone do not establish OSHA compliance. Employers remain responsible for hazard assessment, written procedures where required, employee training, periodic inspections and all other applicable federal or state-plan requirements.