What Is Lockout Tagout?

Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) is a mandated set of safety procedures operational in the United States, under the governance of the US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). These measures are put in place to ensure that any equipment, energy sources or dangerous machinery undergoing repairs or maintenance is fully shut off while such work is being carried out.

All equipment or systems must be securely shut down and rendered inoperable so that they cannot be activated before these works are complete. LOTO devices include electrical, cable and valve lockouts, padlocks, hasps and safety tags, as well as lockout stations, group lockout cabinets, and lockout kits.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Using A LOTO System?

Setting up and applying a LOTO system helps to keep your workplace safe and in compliance with relevant legislation. It reduces the risk of worker injuries caused by equipment and machinery while its being serviced and maintained. The risk of encountering hazardous energy is eliminated, together with the risk of damage occurring to that equipment or machinery if it is turned back on before repairs or servicing are completed.

One commonly encountered problem is knowing how to distinguish between maintenance and minor routine operations. Is it necessary, for example, to follow LOTO procedures when changing a drill bit or light bulb, altering the speed of a drive belt or correcting the position of an item on a conveyor line?

Employees don't always understand and recognise the necessity for using LOTO in any given situation, and sometimes just do it by guesswork. Without a clear LOTO protocol, people can be confused about who's responsible for carrying it out.

Uncertainty may also arise about which kind of locks or tags to use and where to use them, so both locks and tags must be clearly identified as indicating a hazard. As with emergency stops, this is often accomplished by making them red, with large lettering.

Applying LOTO to a specific item does not always control all the sources of hazardous energy. It is possible to overlook associated sources, such as a neighbouring conveyor or overhead crane, kinetic energy and/or gravity. A machine may have separate individual circuits running to it, which must all be identified.