Lockout/Tagout
Affected Employee Training
The Office is Risk Management requires all employees be knowledgeable of Lockout/Tagout procedures that may affect them as an employee. The Lockout/Tagout procedures aid in preventing worker injuries and deaths from the uncontrolled release of electrical, mechanical and other types of hazardous energy. Below is an overview of safe procedures as it pertains to the Lockout/Tagout program
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 is Hazardous Energy?
- Live or stored electricity
- Moving machine or equipment parts
- Often invisible
Types of Stored Energy in Equipment
- Heat
- Gravity
- Pneumatic, hydraulic, air and water pressure
- Steam
- Chemical
Hazardous Energy Injuries:
- Thousands of injuries every year
- 80% of workers fail to turn off equipment
- Causes:
Unexpected start-up - Release of stored energy
- Failure to lock/tag out
Controlling Hazardous Energy
Lockout:
- Prevents machinery or equipment from being turned on (lockout device)
- Prevents machinery or equipment parts from moving (lockout device)
- Provides a warning (tagout device)
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
employee’s 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
