LOTO means lockout/tagout. Lockout/tagout procedures control hazardous energy and protect your workers from harm.
When machines or equipment are prepped for service or energy, they often contain some form of hazardous energy.
Hazardous energy is the type of energy that can be released and might harm someone.
The type of energy could include:
Without LOTO safety procedures, the serviced equipment can unexpectedly release hazardous energy, which can lead to injuries and even death to your employees or residents of the community.
The most common lockout/tagout process problem include:
1. Lack of procedures [See: See 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)]
Each piece of equipment or process should have specific written procedures that identify all energy sources and energy isolation devices. Your procedure can act as a checklist to ensure all energy sources are controlled before service or maintenance starts.
2. Training [See: See 29 CFR 1910.147 (c)(7)(I)(C)]
Companies do a great job of training authorized and affected employees.
But OSHA requires training for all other employees. These employees include management and staff that do not operate, service, or maintain locked and tagged equipment, but on occasion are near it.
OSHA requires that LOTO safety training cover at least the following three areas:
3. Wrong use of tags [See: 29 CFR 1910.147 (c)(5)(ii)]
Facilities typically need at least four different tags:
Energy control for servicing and maintenance
Process control for production purposes
Informational to import information
“Danger Do Not Use” for defective equipment
The Danger Do Not Operate energy control tag is for servicing and maintenance of equipment only. It should not be used as information or process control tags, like mentioned above. This will only dimmish the purpose of the tag.
4. Wrong use of locks [See: 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)]
Lockout locks are also misused as locks for toolboxes and lockers.
An energy control lock’s purpose for energy control during servicing and maintenance.
5. Working under someone else’s lock [See: 29 CFR1910.147(d)]
To ensure personal energy control responsibility, OSHA’s standard and best practices require each employee servicing a piece of equipment to apply his or her own lock and tag.
6. Not identifying all energy sources [See: 29 CFR1910.147(b) and (c)(4)]
Separate circuits running to a machine, delivery of energy from an overhead crane or adjacent conveyor, and gravity and kinetic energy are sometimes overlooked.
Your written procedure needs to identify all energy sources.
7. Oversight
Never assume your energy control policies are working just fine. During your energy control program review, ask questions with skepticism to find deficiencies.
8. Duplicate keys
Duplicate keys make lock removal too easy. When an employee must use bolt cutters it makes them follow proper procedures to remove a lock.
So, how can you protect employees with a lockout/tagout program?
OSHA standards establish requirements that employees must follow when employees are exposed to hazardous energy while servicing and maintaining equipment and machinery.
Some of the most critical requirements from these standards include:
Safety incentive programs reinforce safety protocols and encourage employees to work safely by rewarding them when they do. To build a successful safety incentive program, you must have a way to consistently measure success, as well as discover any areas of improvement.
OSHA® encourages employers to find creative ways to incentivize safe work practices and accident-prevention measures. C.A. Short Company presents a new way of OSHA® Compliance with Safegagement™.
Safegagement™ occurs when engaged employees are safer at work and make better decisions because they care about those they work with, the company they work for, and the overall accomplishments of the organization. With a safety incentive program, you will raise engagement, reduce accidents, and increase your bottom line.
Our behavior-based programs can assist you in measuring and awarding employees for leading indicators. KPIs vary by industry, but it is important to create measurable KPI’s that are credible and predictive.
Recognizing employees monthly versus annually has proven to be the most effective way to achieve positive results. Our platform gives you the ability to easily recognize employees each month for leading indicators such as:
Our goal is to partner with you in your effort to foster and advance your safety culture to prevent accidents from happening.