Lockout/Tagout
Affected Employee
What is Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)?
Practices and procedures designed specifically to safeguard employees from unexpected energizing or starting of machines and equipment, or accidental release of hazardous energy.
Affected Employee Vs. Authorized Employee:
- Affected Employee: One whose job requires them to operate/use or be in the area of machinery or equipment on which service or maintenance is being performed.
- Authorized Employee: One who is responsible for the lockout/tagout of machinery or equipment.
What are the responsibilities of an Authorized Employee?
- Assures that equipment and machinery are properly shut down
- Apply lock/tags at the energy source to prevent accidental start-up
- Verbally notifies all affected and other employees about the shutdown.
- Upon completion, all affected and other employees are notified prior to the removal of locks and tags and impending restart
What are the responsibilities of an Affected Employee?
- Provide needed assistance to the Authorized employee as requested to ensure proper shutdown and identification of isolation locations
- Never attempt to start equipment/machines that have been locked out or tagged out
- Never attempt to remove or tamper with locks or tags for any reason
What should you do if the machine/equipment that you need to use is locked/tagged out?
- DO NOT Attempt to remove or tamper with the locks or tags
- Contact the Authorized Employee – The name is located on the tag
- If the Authorized Employee cannot be contacted, call the Authorized Employees Supervisor.
Why is LOTO Important?
- It is a Matter of Life and Death!
- Unexpected startup of equipment/machines during service or maintenance can result in serious injury or even death
- 10% of injury occurring during service work are the direct result of someone else starting up the equipment or energizing the equipment
- Don’t be responsible for injuring a fellow employee
