Lockout Tagout (LOTO) Is Very Important For Workplace Safety , It Ensures That Machinery And Equipment Are Properly Locked Down And Cannot Be Suddenly Started During Maintenance Or Servicing. This Procedure Safeguards Workers From Harm And Death While Also Assisting In The Prevention Of The Unintentional Release Of Hazardous Energy. I Will Use Simple Language To Explain The Significance Of Lockout Tagout And Its Procedure In This Article.
What Is Lockout Tagout (LOTO)?
All Of The Equipment’s Energy Sources, Including Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, Hydraulic, And Pneumatic Energy, Are Isolated And A Lock And Tag Are Placed At The Starter Point To Prevent Any Machine Or Equipment From Suddenly Starting During Maintenance Or Servicing, To Prevent Someone From Starting It Unintentionally, Or To Protect The Safety Of Those Working On It.
On Which It Is Written Why This Lock Has Been Installed, Who Is Responsible And What Is The Date Of Lockout. The Key Of This Lock Is With The Authorized Person Of That Maintenance Team So That After The Work Is Completed, The Lock Can Be Opened And The Equipment Can Be Restarted.
Different Kinds Of Isolation Mostly Two Types Of Isolation Are Done In All The Industries, Below Given Two Types Of Isolation Are Mostly Used:
Electrical Isolation:
When Working With Live Electrical Equipment, The Supply From The Main Circuit Breaker Is Always Turned Off And A Lockout Tagout Is Used. After Verifying That There Is No Energy In The Vault And Checking It, Work Is Done On It.
Mechanical Isolation:
Positive Isolation, In Which The Valve Is Closed To Stop The Flow Between The Two Pipes And A Blind Is Placed Between Them, Or The Flow Connection Is Cut Off By Removing The Spool And Putting A Tag On The Closing Valve By Locking It With A Chain, Is Typically Preferred In Mechanical Isolation. So That Others Can Know That Someone Is Working On This Line.
Difference Between Hazard and Disaster Explained with Examples
Process & Steps Of Lockout Tagout (LOTO)
You Must Have Been Aware Of And Comprehended Lockout/Tagout (LOTO); Now I Will Explain The Procedure In Detail.
- Notification: All Employees Are Informed About Upcoming Maintenance Or Servicing, And Lockout-Tagout Procedures.
- Preparation: All Of The Equipment’s Energy Sources, Including Electrical, Mechanical, Hydraulic, Pneumatic, Chemical, And Thermal Energy, Are Identified. Shutdown The
- Equipment: The Equipment Is Shut Down Using The Shutdown Procedure.
- Isolation: The Energy Source Is Identified And Isolated In Order To Separate The Device From Its Source Of Power.
- Lockout: The Energy Isolated Device Is Locked, And A Lockout Box Holds Its Key.
- Tagout: Equipment That Is Locked Is Given A Tag With Information About Why It Is Locked, Who Is Responsible For It, And The Date The Lockout Took Place.
- Verify: It Is Necessary To Confirm That The Equipment Is Properly Isolated Following Lockout And Tagout. The Equipment Is Started And Checked To Ensure That It Does Not Start Suddenly. And After This Maintenance Work Is Started On It.
Conclusion
It Is Very Important To Use Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Correctly And Follow All Of Its Steps. If It Is Done Incorrectly Or With Care, The Consequences Can Be Very Bad And It Can Cost A Lot Of Lives And Property, So It’s Important To Know How Important It Is And Do It. Hope You Have Got Information About It.
Questions That Are Frequently Asked:
1. What Is The Meaning Of Lockout Tagout?
To Prevent Any Machine Or Equipment From Starting Suddenly During Maintenance Or Servicing Or Someone From Starting It Unknowingly Or Anyone From Getting Harmed By The Energy Inside It, And Keeping In Mind The Safety Of Those Working On It, All The Energy Sources Of That Equipment Such As Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, Hydraulic And Pneumatic Energy.
2. What Is Lotto And How Does It Work?
In Order To Ensure That Machinery And Equipment Are Properly Locked Down And Cannot Be Restarted During Maintenance Or Servicing, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Is Essential To Workplace Safety. This Procedure Safeguards Workers From Harm And Death By Preventing The Accidental Release Of Hazardous Energy.
3. What Is The Purpose Of Lotto?
It Is Very Important To Apply Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Correctly And Follow All Its Steps. If It Is Not Done Properly Or Negligence Is Done In It, Then Its Consequences Can Be Very Dire And It Can Cause A Lot Of Damage To Life And Property.