The importance of LOTO

Here’s another scene illustrating the importance of LOTO: Sarah is a mechanic in an auto repair shop. She was assigned to work on a car engine, which required her to replace some powertrain components. The engine is powered by a gasoline engine and battery and is controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU). Sarah follows the standard operating procedure and notifies her supervisor of her intended maintenance. She then used the car key to turn off the car’s ignition and removed it from the ignition. She also installed locks on the car’s battery and fuel pump, and put a sticker on the steering wheel saying the car was being serviced. After confirming that the car won’t start, Sarah begins dismantling the parts, which requires her to use a variety of tools. She wore appropriate personal protective equipment, including gloves, goggles and earplugs. While working, Sarah noticed that there were some exposed wires near the ECU, which was dangerous. She stopped work immediately and informed her supervisor of the situation. The supervisor checks the wires and confirms they need to be repaired. The supervisor gets the repair kit and deploys the LOTO device to the car battery and ECU. Once the wires are secured, the supervisor removes the LOTO device and tags, allowing Sarah to finish her job safely. In this case, Sarah’s adherence to the LOTO protocol allowed her to identify electrical hazards and stop work until the problem was resolved. Intervention by supervisors following LOTO procedures ensures that electrical systems are safe to use after repairs. By following LOTO, Sarah and her supervisor make safety a priority, preventing accidents and protecting cars and other property in the shop.