It’s essential that you learn about a major safety measure that should be known by every worker in the workplace – Lockout/Tagout, or LOTO for short. If you have worked in the industry, you are likely to know about this method but may not necessarily have a complete understanding of it. In short, Lockout/Tagout is a safety method that is followed to ensure that dangerous equipment is shut down properly and cannot be restarted until maintenance has finished. The system works to prevent accidents that could cause major injuries or even death because imagine the equipment is turned on while trying to fix it – that’s scary!

The process begins with determining the energy sources that the equipment uses to function, which can be electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal, or mechanical, and then moving on to the first step of the procedure which is locking out the machinery. By ‘locking it out’ it is meant that the operator places a lock on the energy isolating device, such as a valve or a switch which prevents the machine from being turned back on while it is being repaired. In addition to the lock, there is a tag placed on that notifies other individuals that the machinery undergoes maintenance and should not be operated. The information that the tag includes is usually the name of the person who locked out the machine, the date of the lockout, and the reasons for it.

Now you may wonder why it is so important. Just think of maintenance being done, which often puts people in dangerous situations. With the help of Lockout/Tagout people can concentrate on doing their job without worrying that the machinery might start working by accident. Furthermore, following the main requirements of Lockout/Tagout is not only good to follow but it’s also a legal requirement in many countries.

Now you understand that Lockout/Tagout is an essential tool to provide safety at the workplace. Whether you are a manager or a worker you need to be acquainted with how to use this safety system.