What is the Purpose of Lockout Tagout: Advantages & Disadvantages
The purpose of the Lockout Tagout programme is to increase the workplace’s safety. Working with machinery may be hazardous, but taking the necessary precautions can significantly reduce the danger.
Safeguards against being crushed or injured by moving components are examples of protective measures that may implement. They may also incorporate measures to prevent electrocution from occurring.
One of the main purpose of lockout tagout programme has become so significant in many facilities’ safety systems because it gives multiple advantages to a large number of people at the same time.
What Is Lockout Tagout (LOTO) and How Does It Work?
The purpose of LOTO (Lockout Tagout) is to ensure that equipment is switched off, rendered unusable, and de-energized before it may use again.
This makes it feasible to repair and maintain the system in a safe and secure environment. The Lockout Kit is one of the most useful safety equipment collection kits that is helpful in many dangerous situations.
Lockout/Tagout procedures must follow in any workplace where equipment may unintentionally discharge potentially hazardous energy if not properly maintained.
Advantages of Lockout Tagout Products
When a person incorrectly assumes that a machine has been properly switched off, it may be a serious incident. LOTO is a means of shutting down all computers, machinery, and equipment simultaneously to protect yourself and others.
If accidents and fatalities can prevent, it is possible to decrease production time losses while increasing overall profits. The following are some of the advantages of lockout.
- Reduces the likelihood of injury occurring if machines are accidentally triggered by a mistake.
- The risk of injury or death from hazardous energy releases such as steam blasts, corrosive chemicals, and electrical arc flashes is minimized to the lowest degree possible.
- This approach saves the lives of people.
- Reduce the possibility of legal action.
- Benefits and reductions in workers’ compensation insurance premiums are offered in several counties if a firm has fewer accidents.
- Making safety a high priority at work has the effect of creating confidence and trust in people.
- Profitability
Disadvantages of Lockout Tagout
Lockout/Tagout rules and standards have been established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to protect employees, equipment, and the workplace while performing maintenance and repairs.
Read More: Importance of OSHA Standards
Unfortunately, several cases of deaths persist after considerable guidance and inspection, including shocks and missing fingers and the end of a person. The following are examples of disadvantages of lockout that might be fatal.
- Failure to de-energize the system
- The inability to remove residues from a location.
- Repeating the same mistake over and over
- Inappropriate training
- There is a shortage of equipment-specific lockout methods.
- Keys and locks that are synchronized
Moreover, make use of the Lockout Tagout system in your organization right now. When used properly, it may be a life-saving technology. It is important to protect employees from the release of hazardous energy when maintaining machinery or equipment by following the lockout Tagout procedures.
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You Might Also Like: Common Yet Useful Lockout Devices
Electrical Panel Lockout Switches With Safety
Electrical Panel as the name suggests are the systems which distribute the units of electricity to various electricity circuits due to which the other name is given to electrical panel that is distribution board. These panels are in robust in construction, rectangular in shape and vary in sizes according to the type of system which is to be imparted in the organization. When these Electrical panel lockout are not in use from the safety point of view lockout devices are used to avoid any miss happening to take place or any accident to occur which may lead to sudden death of any individual due to electrical shocks.
The Lockout devices that are very common now days and used in many industries for the purpose of safety are being described in the information stated below.
(1) MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker) / Circuit Breaker Lockout Device very common lockout device, prevents the circuit breaker toggle from being turned on. It is then fit with an appropriate padlock to prevent unauthorized removal.
(2) Electrical Panel Lockout Device as the name suggest device with tough, lightweight, dielectric thermoplastic bodies that completely enclose the electrical plug thus protecting against accidental reconnection.
(3) Pendant Lockout device is used to lock large electrical connectors and control the hoist.
(4) Electrical Panel Lockout is used on switches where there is no inbuilt lockout provision. They consist of removable push button and rotary switch covers, which is secured with a padlock or hasp and this cover prohibits access to a switch or control on the electrical panel. They use transparent bases and cover that allow visibility of nameplates and labels.
(5) Panel Lockout is rectangular strip which is attached to the panel cover and the rectangular strip is encapsulated by the device preventing the panel cover from being removed. The circuit breakers remain locked off while work is being done. The Panel Lockout comes with a brass padlock and reusable tagout. Panel Lockout can also be used to prevent accidental shutdowns of critical equipment by keeping unauthorized persons from accessing electrical circuit breaker panels, security panels, and data centre panels and associated pull boxes.
(6) Electrical panel lockout with square base these are covering provided on the electrical button which is spring operated, these are used to avoid accidentally pressing the button.
The Lockout Tagout Products are a great way to ensure the workplace safety of the organizations as well as the individuals. There are many world pioneers in lockout/ tagout items and administrations that offer a wide scope of strong, simple to-utilize lockout gadgets that cover most mechanical and electrical applications. Many of them cover the other basic parts of an agreeable, viable vitality control program by giving imaginative answers for preparing workers, making reported methodology, and recognizing vitality sources. Many of these devices help various kinds of organizations with restricted assets rapidly get their program up to speed, guaranteeing that lockout exercises are executed in a way that advances ideal well-being while augmenting productivity and lessening downtime.
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- Scaffold Tag
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- Lockout Padlocks
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All About Ball Valve Lockout Devices
A work facility is an inexhaustible source of hazardous energy. Energy sources include electrical, hydraulic, mechanical, pneumatic, thermal, etc. and can be detrimental to work forces within the premises. A lot of industrial mishappenings around the world are caused by unexpected energy release and unanticipated equipment startup.ball valve lockout devices
A lockout safety method locks out such energy-isolating devices and ensures that they cannot be operated until the lockout device is removed. It simply aims at improving safety, maintaining compliance and encouraging sustainability. However daunting it might seem, it’s imperative that all the layers of the organization work towards implementing a sustainable lockout safety program. Without seamless cooperation, a lockout system would fall apart.
Of all the safety Lockout Tagout Products, today, we’ll discuss about Ball Valve Lockout. Ball Valve is a quarter-turn, straight-through valve that suitably transfers liquids, compressed air, clean gas and slurries (liquids with suspended solids). It uses a hollow and perforated ball to control the flow through it. The ease of operation, repair and versatility that comes with ball valves is what leads to its extensive industrial use. Ball valves have a round closure element that permits consonant sealing stress. Getting its name from the ball that rotates within to close and open the valve, these devices are used where a taut shut-off is required and are a fine source for control applications. Durable and reliable even after jagged use, these safety devices are often preferred to gate and globe valves. Ball valves involve the use of materials such as nylon, delrin, synthetic rubbers and polymers and that imparts an excellent sealing ability. However, there is a potential of wear on the seats and it renders it unsuitable for throttle applications.
Types of Ball Valves:
Valve operation in each type remains the same. The only difference is how these valves are manufactured and assembled. Each design has its own benefits.
– Split body Ball Valve
– Top entry Ball Valve
– End entry Ball Valve
– Double trunnion Ball Valve
– 3-piece Ball Valve
– Lubricated/Non-lubricated Ball Valve
Advantages that a ball valve renders:
– Smooth and straightforward actuation
– Swift opening and closing
– More compact and lighter than a gate valve
– Bubble-tight service
– Wide choices, thus allowing flexibility
– Multi-port designs
– Reliable in high-temperature and high-pressure applications
Used in a variety of applications such as gas processing and storage, fire safe protection services, chlorine manufacturing, and flowing systems, ball valves. Some typical applications are:
– Low point drains in fluid services
– High-point vents in fluid services
– Instrument root valves
– Steam service
– Feed water systems
At Lockout India, it’s all about committing to quality, performance and service. We are the leading manufacturer of various types of Ball Valve Lockout devices and our products satiate different industrial requirements and convincingly control the flow of diverse gases and fluids.
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Keeping the work facility safe: A guide for employers
General industry workers who service and maintain the machineries are exposed to unexpected energization, startup and release of hazardous energy. The work practices can prove to be fatal if proper safety measures aren’t followed. This is where OSHA heavily focuses. OSHA’s standard 1910.147 is all about the control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) and requires energy control procedures for all the machines that are prone to dysfunction and could be a source of mechanical/chemical/thermal/hydraulic energy outburst.
Who has the ultimate responsibility to implement lockout safety procedure within a facility? This is perhaps the most-asked question. OSHA requires the employers to take proper steps against unexpected machinery startup and energy outbursts. But simply buying the Lockout Tagout Products is not enough. Most of the firms fall short on enabling effective procedures and fast action by employees. They do not have a set of machine-specific instructions and these instructions are generally not handy to the employees.
Follow the below mentioned steps and ensure a consistent and effective lockout safety program:
– Communication is the key: Communicate to your employees the benefits of an effective lockout program. It is your duty to instill in your employees the value of a safe working environment. Also, produce an easy-to-use set of guidelines that your employees understand.
– Make a complete list of machinery that might require lockout safety procedures. It is also important to keep your equipments in a healthy state with timely maintenance and repairs.
– Identify the energy points and label the isolation devices (valves and breaker panels).
– List and document the hardware that might be needed for to lock out and isolate machinery and equipment. Devices such as padlocks and tags.
– There’s no generic safety procedure. Make sure you document machine-specific procedures and specific steps to isolate, secure and shut it down.
– Implement comprehensive training sessions and make sure the employees have a clear understanding of safety procedures and the magnitude of hazardous energy sources within the facility.
– Sort out your workers according to their lockout responsibilities. Anyone unaware of the health hazards and safety procedure shouldn’t be allowed near the machineries but still must receive basic instructions regarding energy control. As an employer, it is your responsibility to protect all the workers.
And lastly, keep reviewing and updating your safety program. Just like machinery, a lockout safety program requires periodic reviews.
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Lockout-Tagout Strategy Missing From Amputation Case
We all know the worth of OSHA’s Lockout-Tagout system. We have discussed about the Lockout Tagout Strategy from top to bottom in our previous blogs. However, going by the accidents that are happening around the globe, I guess it is the time to reconsider the viability of the procedure for the reason the same events that used to happen earlier are still taking place.
By accidents we are referring here to the death of workers through any sort of carelessness in operating detrimental machinery. OSHA’s facility in USA have reported that a beverage company namely ‘Kerry incorporated’ was violating the lockout-tagout procedure. Counting the company works on large scale as it has its branches in six continents and gives employment to approximately twenty-thousand workers, putting everyone’s life in danger is nowhere a responsible move.
The enterprise came into the picture when last week on December 5, the company broke some serious laws. Not only that but also processed them repeatedly. It was delineated that a worker’s forearm got stuck in a machine which further lead to multiple fractures. The injury happened mere six weeks late when another employee met with an accident at the same facility.
In both of the incidents it was observed by the federal safety inspectors that the enterprise wasn’t following the rules and regulations prescribed by OSHA for Lockout Tagout Products. The bigger injury that happened to a fifty plus year old guy whose arm was harmed while he was performing routine maintenance raises a serious question that why the industry owners does not comply with OSHA’s LOTO process?
We fully know and understand that Lockout Tagout Procedure is the best way to prevent any possible catastrophe from ever happening in an industry. Since many injuries which are repeated in almost every company can be avoided through the procedure, it is strictly foolish to not instigate Lockout-Tagout procedure in your firm.
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Best Ways To Avoid Conflict With OSHA
It is said that smart people are those who learn from their own mistakes. But smartest are the ones who learn from the mistakes committed by others. Today we bring you a very interesting blog regarding how you can avoid getting in trouble with OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). manufacturer of lockout products
It has happened numerous times when industrial men won’t listen to OSHA and completely ignore their prescribed guidelines of implementing Lockout Tagout system in order to secure the workplace and the life of the staff employed. This often leads to conflicts with the supervising establishment and it is advisable to never disrespect your bread and butter. Reason being OSHA has the right to shut down a firm or extricate the employed staff from the organizations where the guidelines aren’t followed.
So, if you want to steer clear of facing any kind of trouble with OSHA and wish to eschew any catastrophic accident happening in your organization, keep note of the following things: –
Ensure your Lockout-Tagout practices are appropriate to the way they are prescribed in OSHA’s guidelines to safeguard the employees against possible injuries such as amputations, or even death. Always ask OSHA for any query if you may have any.
Always report about damaged or missing guards and never ever bypass a moving device. Until and unless the damaged machinery is repaired or replaced, make sure all of your workers are taking necessary precautions.
Update yourself with all the MSDS information of the chemicals that are used by you and your employees on site. Ensure you are providing protective workshops and training to the staff.
Considering most of the injuries happen due to lack of safety operating procedures, deficient safety-rule and inadequate training given to employees, always make sure your establishment never falls into any of these three categories.
Learn to use cords flexibly. Practice running extension cords overhead or taping them down to avoid tripping.
It is hard to keep track of all the safety guidelines prescribed by OSHA so at least by adhering to the above mentioned techniques, you can hope for a secure workplace and obviously manage to keep OSHA away from raining down on you. For more relevant information regarding Lockout-Tagout procedure, stays tuned to our blog and if interested in purchasing LOTO Kit, feel free to order online because we are the best Lockout-Tagout product manufacturer in India.
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- Scaffold Tag
- MCB Lockout
- Lockout Padlocks
- Lockout Kit
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Learn About Lockout Tagout Procedure To Control Hazardous Energy
Lockout-Tagout procedure is a very safe and serious practice of safeguarding the workers from the potential threat of unanticipated release of harmful gases or other forms of energies. It is an integral part of workplace security and an OSHA standard which demands the employers to create a LOTO system for their establishment. According to some recent stats uploaded by OSHA, Lockout-Tagout process helps prevent approximately 50,000 injuries and 120 deaths
of employees per annum. It is a sentry technique of protecting the workers by making sure that no noxious devices can operate sporadically on their own via turning off and locking out the equipments appropriately.
The primary steps of Lockout-Tagout procedure are:
1. Person in-command must ponder through the entire process.
2. He or she must recognize all parts of the system that needs to be turned off.
3. Should select wisely as to what switches, devices and people will be involved in the procedure.
4. Must formulate the plan cautiously as to how the device will be restarted.
Furthermore, the person in-charge must properly communicate with the team. Improper communication can lead to misunderstandings regarding specific tasks to execute in the process. Also, the workforce not involved in Lockout safety procedure must be alerted about it. All kinds of recognizable electrical circuits, hydraulic and gravity systems, etc must be disconnected from the power source. The movable parts must be blocked and the dangling parts must be put to resting positions.
Once the process has been carried out, double checks must be performed to ensure that no loose ends were left. And when it’s the time to reenergize the equipment, proper inspection must be done to make sure that the machine is kept intact as it was left out and all the unnecessary items lying around should be removed.
Lockout-Tagout Products has considerable benefits and it is suggested that one must follow the program and provide essential training to his or her employees.
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- Lockout Hasp
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- Lockout Station
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Five Most Cited Serious Violations As Per OSHA – II
Scaffolding: OSHA asks every scaffold and scaffold component to be able to support without any failure not just its own weight, but at least four times the maximum load intended to apply to it. There are of course exceptions to this rule, such as suspension ropes, used on suspension scaffolds that are non-adjustable. These should be capable of supporting at least six times the maximum weight intended to be transmitted to it.
Respiratory Protection: OSHA asks for preventing atmospheric contamination, so that occupational respiratory diseases are not caused by inhaling any harmful vapor, spray, smoke, gas, mist, fume, fog and dust. This is to be achieved by using materials that are less topic, conducting operations in an enclosed area, ventilation and other engineering control measures. If such measures are not feasible, respirators are to be provided to the workers.
Lockout Tagout: Appropriate LOTO devices must be used to prevent unexpected energization/ release of stored energy from machines.Equipment must be tested to verify the effectiveness of lockout tagout products and other energy control measures. The employer is to provide training so that the function of the energy control program is understood by the workers. This section covers the servicing of machines and equipment.
As the top manufacturer of LOTO devices, Safety House provides products like lockout tagout kit and key cabinet at reasonable prices.
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Five Most Cited Serious Violations As Per OSHA – I
Readers of the blog of New Delhi, India-based manufacturer of Lockout products, ‘Safety House’ would know that our wide range of products is as per OSHA. In the last bog post, we gave you an insight into top violations as cited by the federal agency of the United States Department of Labor. Today, we discuss five serious violations in detail. (For those unaware, OSHA releases a list of top serious violations every year.)
Fall Protection: Employers must provide fall protection systems. Like all other points, this is vast, but employees need to determine if walking surfaces have the strength to support employees. Walking surfaces that are over 6 feet above a lower level must be protected through guardrail/ safety net/ personal fall arrest systems. Same goes for every worker constructing a leading edge 6 feet or more above a lower level. The only exception to this rule is when an employer can ‘demonstrate’ that using these systems, on the contrary, poses greater harm. The employer in this case would be required to develop an alternate fall protection system.
Hazard Communication: This is concerned with chemical safety at workplaces. Of prime importance is the fact that hazards by chemicals must be identified, and available to/ understood by workers. Signs and right-to-know placards should be used. The requirements of the hazard communication section by OSHA are consistent with UN’s GHS, i.e. Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. lockout supplier
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