In 2023, Lockout/Tagout was cited again as OSHA’s Top 10 Safety violation. Employee safety and well-being are always a top priority in the workplace. Lockout-Tagout, or LOTO, is like a safety net for people at work. It is a set of specific practices and procedures to safeguard employees from the unexpected energization or startup of machinery and equipment or the release of hazardous energy during service or maintenance activities. It prevents accidents before they happen by ensuring machines can’t move, turn on, or let out energy when they’re not supposed to. Before we fix or check any machine, we first make sure it won’t start up on its own. It is called a “Zero Energy State,” an essential safety step to keep everyone safe.
OSHA integrated LOTO into its framework in 1970, and by the mid-1970s, specific regulations emerged. The Control of Hazardous Energy Standard, established in 1989 (29 CFR 1910.147), meticulously outlines LOTO requirements, shaping worker safety during maintenance. In this blog, we will discuss the Lockout-Tagout Program, its significance, the steps to apply Lockout-Tagout, and why organizations struggle to implement and enforce these critical safety measures.
Lockout-Tagout comprises two fundamental elements:
Lockout: This involves a detailed examination of the lockout process, where energy sources are physically isolated and secured in an ‘off’ position. The lockout is crucial to ensure the machinery is completely de-energized and cannot be reactivated inadvertently or without proper authorization.
Tagout: This segment explores the tagout procedure, wherein warning tags and labels are attached to energy-isolating devices. These tags are visible reminders, providing essential information regarding the equipment’s operational status and caution against re-energizing the machinery while maintenance is underway.