Lockout – Tagout (LOTO) Training

Purpose

The purpose of the Lockout/Tagout procedure is to prevent the unexpected energization or startup of machines or equipment or release of stored energy that could cause injury to employees.   According to OSHA failure to control hazardous energy accounts for nearly 10% of serious accidents.

Hazardous Energy

Hazardous energy can be found during the maintenance and repair of electrical equipment, vehicles and other equipment, routine lubrication of moving machine parts, sanitation or cleaning of machinery, clearing jammed equipment or machinery, removing existing insulation on line with heat tracing and maintenance of high-pressure, high temperature hazardous pipelines just to name a few.  There are many different types of hazardous energy including, but not limited to, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical, chemical and thermal.  Potential hazards that exist if equipment is not properly locked and tagged out include:  electric shock, fire and explosions, asphyxiation, amputations, caught in, chemical exposure or even death.

Procedures

Gribbins Insulation LOTO procedures are:  1. A person shall be designated to oversee and assure compliance with the LOTO procedures.  2. Before the procedure begins, a member of the safety department or designee will perform a final evaluation.  3. Turn off the point of operation controls.  4. Turn off the main power controls.  5. The designated person shall lock the equipment out and a danger tag shall be filled out and placed on the lock.  The tag and tie shall be securely attached and able to endure the environmental conditions at the worksite.  6. Test the switch or valve to make sure it cannot be turned “ON”.  7. Test the machine controls to make sure the main controls are really “OFF”.  8. When work is completed, the designated person shall remove the lock and danger tag and notify the proper person that the work is finished and equipment is operational.  The Gribbins Insulation Company LOTO procedure shall only be used if the jobsite does not already have a procedure in effect.  On many of these jobsite the owner will lock out the designated points and then the foreman will lock on to a group lockbox and place his key in a satellite lock box for other employees to lock on to.  In these cases, employees should walk down the lock out points to verify that everything has been locked out and the equipment is not operational.

General Rules

• Locks and danger tags are to be used for all LOTO procedures
• Make sure all energy sources are locked and tagged out, many machines have more than on power supply.
• Never attempt to restart or reenergize any equipment or machinery without the consent of the designated person.
• Danger tags shall be legible, understandable and include: the employees doing the job, the equipment locked out and the date of initiation and removal.
• Tags are never to be removed without the authorization of the designated person. They are never to be bypassed, ignored, or otherwise defeated.
• Employees may receive a false sense of security form tags. Tags warn and provide information to the employees.  They do not stop hazardous energy, the locks do.
• If you feel as though a piece of equipment or machinery is not properly locked and tagged, stop work and inform the designated person immediately.