What are lockout/tagout devices?

What are lockout/tagout devices?
Placing a physical locking mechanism on either the electrical supply cord or the place where the machinery is plugged in is absolutely necessary when using lockout/tagout procedures. Then a tag, hence the name tagout, must be placed on or near the locking device to indicate the source of energy as well as who is working on the machine at the time.

These devices are what serve as both a physical barrier and visual reminder for preventing other people from inadvertently energizing a machine. They can be used for a number of different types of applications regarding energy release. Those include:

Electrical circuit breakers that are manually operated
Disconnect switches
Line valves
Blocks
Other devices that are used to adequately block and isolate energy sources, whether it be hydraulic, pneumatic, etc.
Not only do lockout/tagout devices protect those who are working on de-energized machines, but they also protect the company when it comes to regulation compliance. Knowing that, it’s important to realize that LOTO devices exist because they have been proven to work when it comes to keeping people safe from dangerous equipment during standard maintenance procedures.