Lockout Tagout

Verification of ZERO ENERGY STATE (ZES)

Verification by the authorized employee that the previous steps of the procedure have effectively isolated the machine or equipment must be done prior to starting the servicing or maintenance work.  The authorized employees need to verify that: the machine or equipment has been turned off or shut down properly; all the energy-isolating devices were identified,…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Tagout and Full Employee Protection (e.g. Tag Plus)

LOCKOUT is a more effective means of ensuring the de-energization of equipment; it is the preferred method because lockout-based safety programs are less susceptible to human error, and tagout devices have INHERENT PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS. Therefore, if the energy isolating device is capable of being locked out, the standard requires LOCKOUT unless the employer can demonstrate…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

LOTO on Chemical Process and Piping Systems

The Control of Hazardous Energy (lockout/tagout) standard regulates the servicing and/or maintenance of chemical process systems and associated piping, even though the energy sources (e.g., chemical and thermal energy) and control methods used in process hazards management are somewhat different from those encountered with machinery and mechanical equipment. Typically, the procedural steps required for the…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Does your LOTO program contain “enforcement” procedures?

One of the most overlooked LOTO program requirements is the “Means to Enforce”. OSHA regulations state the following about procedures to enforce the program…… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

GREAT LOTO Cartoon (VIDEO)

I need to put a disclaimer on this one…this video is from Canada. Although their LOTO principles are the same as OSHA’s, you must refer to your country’s LOTO standards to ensure your facility complies with the applicable regulations. If your country does not have OHS standards, you should consider adopting some for your facility,…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

FALSE Sense of Safety…using interlocks in Lieu of LOTO!!!

Those of you that get my Incident Alerts or participate in the Safety Engineering Network Linked In Forum have seen the recent accident that involved a 61-year-old supervisor with over 40 years of experience at the plant which was killed when he entered a plastic molding press using an “open door” that was “interlocked” and…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

We have THREE Choices to Identify our Lockout Locks

We continue to see businesses using many methods to identify their lockout locks, many of which are NOT acceptable to OSHA.  1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(B) states: Lockout and tagout devices shall be standardized within the facility in at least one of the following criteria: color; shape; or size… Most businesses use color, and we can have multiple colors…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Tagout vs. Lockout

We continue to see businesses using tagout when locks can be used and they dispute us when we attempt to explain to them that locks MUST be used when they can, UNLESS the employer can show that their tags are EQUALLY effective as a lock.  OSHA REQUIRES Tag-Plus-One when using a tag in these situations. …...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Company argues before the OSHRC that LOTO does not apply to their die changing activities – an analysis of a OSHRC 2009 decision

Some may think this is crazy, I do; but I have had many debates with businesses during audits and serious accident investigations around this argument.  There are a lot of mind-sets in plants that have many presses that LOTO does not apply to this task as it would slow production too much and put them…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
Scroll to Top