Standard LOTO steps

Step1 – Prepare for Shutdown
1. Know the problem. What needs fixing? What dangerous energy sources are involved? Are there equipment specific procedures?
2. Plan to notify all affected employees, review LOTO program files, locate all energy lock-in points, and prepare appropriate tools and locks
3. Prepare to clean the site, set warning labels, and wear required PPE

Step2 – Shut Down Equipment
1. Use the right LOTO program
2. If you don’t know, involve employees who normally turn off equipment
3. Check whether the device is shut down correctly

Step3 – Isolate the Equipment
1. Isolate all energy sources one by one as required by LOTO procedure documents
2. When opening the circuit breaker, stand to one side in case of arc

Step4 – Apply Lockout/TagoutDevices
1. Only locks and tags with LOTO special colors (red lock, red card or yellow lock, yellow card)
2. The lock must be attached to the energy insulation device
3. Never use Lockout tagout locks and tags for other purposes
4. Don’t use signage alone
5. All authorized personnel involved in maintenance must Lockout tagout

Step5 – Control Stored Energy
The energy sources include but are not limited to the following. Operate according to ESP requirements
1. Mechanical movement
2, the force of gravity
3, heat
4. Stored mechanical energy
5. Stored electrical energy
6, the pressure

Step 6-verify Isolation Verify the “zero” energy status
1, try to turn on the switch of the device. If you verify that the stored energy is zero, put the switch in the “off” position.
2, according to the requirements of LOTO program file, through all kinds of instruments, such as pressure gauge, flow meter, thermometer, current/voltmeter, etc., confirm the zero energy status;
3, or through all kinds of testing instruments such as infrared temperature gun, qualified multimeter and so on to verify the zero energy state.
4, multimeter use requirements:
1) Before use, check the multimeter on the equipment with marked energy level (such as power socket) to ensure that it is in normal working state;
2) To detect the target equipment/circuit wiring;
3) Test the multimeter in the normal working state of the equipment marked with energy level (such as power sockets) again.

Finally, restore energy
Upon completion of the work, the authorized personnel shall perform the following activities before resuming the operation of the equipment:
• Inspect work area, clean up tools and other items used for repair/maintenance;
• Restore the protective cover to ensure that machines, equipment, processes or circuits are operating properly and that all personnel are in a safe position.
• Locks, tags, locking devices are removed from each energy isolation device by an authorized person implementing LOTO.
• Notify affected personnel that power to machines, equipment, processes and circuits will be restored.
• Service and/or maintenance tasks of equipment have been completed by visual inspection and/or cyclic testing. If the task has been completed, the machine, equipment, process, circuit can be restored to work. If not, repeat the necessary locking/marking steps.
• Follow the following start-up steps for the correct equipment, process or circuit as per SOP, if any.