In industrial and manufacturing environments, safety is a top priority. One of the most critical safety protocols implemented to protect workers from hazardous energy during maintenance or repair activities is known as Safety Lockout Tagout (LOTO). This procedure is designed to prevent the accidental release of hazardous energy, which could lead to serious injury or death. The implementation of LOTO ensures that machinery or equipment is properly de-energized and that workers are protected from unexpected startup during maintenance tasks.
What is Lockout Tagout? The Lockout Tagout (LOTO) procedure consists of two primary elements： “Lockout” and “Tagout.” These actions are used to control hazardous energy sources while workers perform maintenance on machinery or equipment. Lockout involves using physical locks to secure energy-isolating devices, such as circuit breakers or valve handles, in a way that prevents the equipment from being energized or operated. This ensures that the equipment cannot be started while it is being worked on. Tagout refers to placing warning tags on energy-isolating devices to inform others that the equipment is being serviced. While tags serve as a visual warning, they alone are not enough to ensure safety. They must be used in conjunction with lockout procedures.