Locking-out electrical safety hazards

LOTO – Lockouts and Tagouts for Electrical Safety

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It is critical for safety that during any maintenance or planed safety procedure that the energy supply to industrial machines or equipment is locked out and isolated to prevent accidental / unexpected re-connection whilst work or repair is being carried out.

Lockout devices will help protect workers from the risks associated with electrical machinery or equipment, but it is also essential that staff training and procedures (best safety practices) are implemented on the correct usage of lockouts

Often known as LOTO (Lockout-Tagout), energy supply is Locked (isolated) and rendered inoperable then a tag is placed on the lock to identify the worker.

Implementing LOTO and operating procedures, has the benefits of reducing accident rates, but will also reduce downtime and increase productivity, through clear working instructions and locking out energy sources will allow the maintenance to be carried out faster.

When more than one worker is operating on the same equipment or machinery, it is essential that each worker has their own padlock on the lockout device, so that that the energy supply cannot be re-connected until all workers have removed their padlocks and the equipment is safe to operate.

RS has a range of electrician’s lockout kits, which includes hasps, circuit breakers, padlocks and tags:

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