LOTO (LOCK OUT TAG OUT)
When we do repair,
or maintenance work in factories and other industrial sites, we have to follow
plant procedures for lockout and tagging.
CONFINED SPACE SAFETY WITH CASE
STUDY
It doesn’t
matter how short or simple the job is. When we work on equipment like
conveyors, presses, roasters, and hoppers, the first step is to lock out the
system.
Many of the
injuries that occur during equipment service and maintenance are caused by
machine parts that move because they were not locked out. The usual excuse is
that lockout is complicated and takes too long. But would you rather spend time
locking out equipment or lying in a hospital?
Lockout
means bringing every power source in a machine or system down to a Zero Energy
State. Some equipment can simply be switched off and locked out of service. But
in most cases the system involves several energy sources.
A press may
be hydraulically powered, for instance, but electrically controlled. Locking
out the hydraulic power is not enough. Locking out the electricity may not be
enough. Gravity can still cause a raised ram to drop of its own weight. There
may also be stored energy in pistons or springs.
It makes
sense to follow plant procedures for lockout. Clients know their own energy
sources and systems. Their lockout procedures have been tested and proven by
time and experience. Some form of permit to work is usually involved.
There are
four basic actions in any lockout.
1) Identify all energy sources connected
with the work.
2) Disable, redirect, or stop all energy
from doing what it normally does.
3) Confirm that you’ve reached a zero energy
state.
4) Apply restraint devices to keep the system from starting up while you
work on it.
Restraint
devices – that’s where tagging comes in. When you put your lock, scissors,
chain, or block on a piece of equipment, you also have to tag it.
The tag
indicates who you are, who you work for, why the machine or system is locked
out, and the date when the lockout was applied.
The lock is
your personal lock that can only be opened with your key.
In some
situations on industrial or construction sites, there may be no established
lockout procedures or permit system in operation.
In that case
we have to inspect the equipment involved, identify all energy sources, and
determine the most effective method of lockout and tagging.
It may be
necessary to trace wiring, lines, and piping in and out of the equipment in
order to identify energy sources.
It helps to
refer to specifications, drawings, operating manuals, and similar information
if it’s available.
Once each
energy source has been identified and de-energized, you must test the equipment
to verify a zero energy state.
One last
point...
Lockout
doesn’t have to involve complicated machines and systems. It can mean putting
blocking under the arm of a backhoe while you replace a hydraulic cylinder
...or locking out an electrical panel while you relocate lighting stringers.
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