The interest in my previous blog, “A Toolbox Talk on Safety Tags” has inspired me to write more on the role tags play in our day-to-day safety operations. With a wealth of safety procedures to explore, I’m excited to kick off this series by focusing on one of the most critical applications: Lock-Out/Tag-Out (LOTO) tags.
LOTO is a critical safety procedure used in industrial and manufacturing settings to ensure that dangerous machines and equipment are properly shut off and not started up again before the completion of maintenance or repair work.
The importance of LOTO cannot be overstated.
Workers are protected from hazardous energy sources including electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, and gravitational energies.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), there are around 150 major injuries and several fatalities each year due to careless or accidental machine start-ups during maintenance in the UK.
LOTO is a legal requirement under various regulations, including the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) in the UK and OSHA’s Control of Hazardous Energy standard in the US.
Vantage Tags provides prominent warning tags that are securely fastened to energy-isolating devices to show that they must not be operated until the tag is removed. Our ‘tag-outs’ are not just any off the shelf tags but ones that are durable and able to withstand harsh industrial environments.
They are also clearly visible and easily recognisable for quick identification.
Here are three key things to consider when devising a LOTO procedure:
- Written Procedures:
Start with detailed procedures for equipment, documenting the steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking, and securing and what tags need to be applied. Include what steps need to be taken for placement, removal, and transfer of lockout/tagout devices. - Training Programme:
Prepare a comprehensive training programme for all employees involved in LOTO procedures, including:- Authorised employees who perform LOTO
- Affected employees who use equipment subject to LOTO
- Other personnel who work in areas where LOTO is used
- Awareness of safety tags and the critical role they have in defining the status of equipment.
- Periodic Inspections:
Conduct regular audits of LOTO procedures to ensure their continued effectiveness and identify any need for updates or more training. Ask if all LOTO safety tags are in place, up to date, and accurately define the status of equipment.
By focusing on these key procedures, companies can develop a robust LOTO policy that safeguards workers and equipment. Our high quality, bespoke safety tags play a crucial role in this process, acting as essential safeguards for an effective LOTO system.
Chris McGeehan
Business Unit Manager
Vantage Tags
