What Are The Purposes of Danger Lockout Tags?

1. What Are The Purposes of Danger Lockout Tags? LOTO, Lockout/Tagout, are among the several devices that prevent employees and the workforce from accidentally powering up machinery and equipment. These devices are used for physically preventing systems from re-engaging when someone is working in or on a machine. The lockout devices make sure that when power is physically removed or disconnected from a machine, it would be prevented from being restored by anyone except the employee who is doing the work. This, in turn, has helped in reducing the number of injuries and accidents at the workplace over the last few decades. Understanding where Danger Lockout Tagshave to be placed is an inevitable part of this program. Electrical Disconnects and Breakers Placing these locks and tags at electrical disconnects and breakers is of great importance because this is an area where the power is restored and cut. Disconnects and breakers are yet another safety feature that would cut power if

2. it spikes or has other issues. Moreover, these are easy places to disconnect the power when maintenance work is being done. When a breaker is flipped for cutting off the power, make sure it is locked in the ‘off’ position, so no one turns it back on without realizing it was switched off deliberately for safety reasons. Plugs Many machines and devices are plugged into a conventional outlet. In such a scenario, the machine has to be unplugged, and the plug must have a lock put on it. This type of lock is directly applied to the prongs of the plug, or box device could be placed over the prongs thus they cannot be plugged in. If a tag is placed on the plug, it will instantly alert who have a look at it to the fact that it was disconnected from the outlet by someone who will be working on the equipment or machine. Installed with the Locks It is important to understand how these devices are used. They should be placed with the locks that are used for preventing power from being restored. Such devices come in a variety of styles including pin locks, padlocks, and several others. While the lock plays a significant role in physically stopping someone from restoring the power, the tag is used for letting the people in the area know why the power was disconnected, and by whom. It is only in situations when both the tag and the lock are used together that the system would work efficiently and properly. Battery Backups If the machine which is in use comes with a battery backup in place, it will also require a tag and lock applied. The tagout/lockout program demands that all types of sources are physically locked out and disconnected, and this includes battery backup systems too. Depending on how the system is designed and setup, the tag and lock can be easily applied to the plugs, the battery banks that carry and release the power from the battery to the equipment or machine, or on a backup breaker system.

3. Other Areas Other areas where electricity is supplied to equipment or machine also need to be disconnected and Danger Lockout Tags are applied. Each equipment and machine is different thus it becomes important to know the exact location of power sources so that they are disconnected and secured before any employee enters the machine for performing the work.