subject: Lockout Tagout- Things To Know About Electrical Protection [print this page] Lockout tagout policies are in place to protect people from electrical releases that are unexpected, as well as hazardous energy releases from equipment or machinery when it is in the position of being serviced or repaired. There are many different types of lockout devices and tagout devices to help workers maintain their safety in the workplace, and accidents can happen anywhere so it is always important to be protected. To better understand this issue, it helps if you explore both areas of the system very carefully.
The lockout device uses a key or combination lock to hold the energy isolation device in the right position. This also prevents the machine or equipment from being energized at any point in time. An energy isolation device could be anything like a circuit breaker, a line valve, a disconnect switch, or even a slide gate. The device that is used to lockout the device is required to be strong enough to withstand excessive force and easy removal by accident. It should be safe and should be used at all times when a tagout system is not in place or has not been activated. Additionally, having a system in place for the transfer of protection is critical.
In lockout tagout devices, the tagout part is a tag or warning device that is attached to the energy isolating device. This tag shows that equipment cannot be operated unless the tag is removed. These devices can prevent a lot of workplace accidents, and must be something that is non-reusable so that the equipment can be reset and re-tagged every single time. These also must be self-locking and attached by hand. They have to be strong enough to withstand up to 50 pounds of strength before unlocking, and they have to be at least as strong as a nylon tie that is environment-tolerant in any situation.
There is a lot to learn about lockout tagout devices, including how to properly remove them. For example, OSHA standards are in place to tell people how to utilize these lockout tagout devices and how to remove them correctly. By taking the time to educate yourself you can ensure worker safety at all times. Electricity is nothing to mess around with and these devices are critical if people are going to be safe in the workplace. Finding the best devices, of course, is going to be an important part of the process for anyone.
