Lockout/Tagout Basics

Lockout/Tagout Basics
LOTO procedures must adhere to the following basic rules:

Develop a single, standardized LOTO program that all employees are trained to follow.
Make use of locks to prevent access to (or activation of) energized equipment. The use of tags is only acceptable if the tagout procedures are strict enough that they provide equal protection to what a lockout would provide.
Ensure that new and modified equipment can be locked out.
Provide a means of tracking every instance of a lock/tag being applied to, or removed from, a device. This includes tracking who placed the lock/tag as well as who removed it.
Implement guidelines for who is allowed to place and remove locks/tags. In many cases, a lock/tag may only be removed by the person who applied it.
Inspect LOTO procedures annually in order to assure that they are performing acceptably.
Tags that are applied to a locked/tagged device must describe why the lock/tag is required (what work is being done), when it was applied, and the person who applied it.

The use of lockout/tagout procedures has traditionally been tracked via the use of a dedicated binder. However, there is also dedicated LOTO software available that can perform the same function.

LOTO procedures form part of a larger collection of necessary safety procedures involving the control of hazardous energy. For example, electrical safety procedures typically require a machine to be de-energized, after which the machine’s energy source must be locked out in order to prevent it from being re-energized.