SPI and Brady’s LOTO Guide
Increasingly popular, lockout/tagout is a safety method that reduces accidents during machine maintenance or interventions.
When well implemented, the tools and program allow safer machine intervention through the complete isolation of the machine’s energy. It can efficiently prevent the accidental re-energizing of the engine and prevent any machine movement during interventions.
Lockout/tagout is a vital part of any strong safety program aimed at maximally reducing accidents on the job.
What is lockout/tagout?
Lockout
It’s a crucial safety practice to control hazardous energy.
The Canadian standard CSA Z460-20 defines it as the placement of a lockout device on an energy-isolating device per an established procedure.
It defines the lockout device as a mechanical means of locking that uses an individually keyed lock to secure an energy-isolating device in a position that prevents energization of a machine, equipment, or a process.
Simply put, lockout powers down electrical circuits, closes valves, neutralizes extreme temperatures, and secures moving parts so hazardous energy isn’t reintroduced while equipment is being serviced.
Tagout
Tagout is the labeling process that comes with a machine’s lockout.
Tagging out a system requires attaching an information lockout tag, label, or indicator that features this information:
- Time of the lockout/tagout procedure
- Why the lockout/tagout is carried out (maintenance or repair)
- Name of the authorized person in charge
Why is lockout/tagout important?
Lockout/tagout helps your team do their job as safely as possible to avoid electrical hazards.
It’s an important safety element that protects workers and employees around the machinery and equipment they operate, service, and maintain.
When you make sure your team is trained, know the right products to use, and applies the correct procedures, your organization will benefit greatly:
- Saves lives - Prevent incidents, injuries, and fatal accidents.
- Cuts costs - Significantly decrease lost employee time and insurance costs
- Improves productivity - Reduce accidents that cause equipment downtime
How to implement lockout/tagout at work?
Now, where to start?
We think that the best approach is to determine the essential components of your lockout/tagout safety based on your reality and then use them as a foundation to continuously improve your program:
- Create your lockout/tagout policy
- Write machine-specific procedures
- Identify energy isolation points
- Train your employees
- Provide proper lockout/tagout tools and devices
- Ensure sustainability
Did you know? Our team of experts can help you establish your policy, procedures, and training. With their wide range of quality products, Brady can help you select the proper tools and lockout devices:
Padlocks
Lockout/tagout padlocks come in different sizes, colors, materials, and casings.
You’ll find various padlock casing options to optimize their durability according to your needs and environment.
Some industries will require padlocks with high abrasion resistance, while others will prefer non-conductive padlocks.
Quick tip! Color-coded padlocks can be a great tool to identify which maintenance team is servicing a specific machine.
Lockout Tags
Easy, on-the-spot communication. Lockout tags can be attached to offer more information on why a machine is locked out, how long it will be locked out for, and who is servicing it.
As a result, your team will always be aware of the lockout and will know who to ask for when more information is required.
Tag Printers
A quality on-site tag printer enables fast labeling of each energy isolation point, padlock, lockout device, tag, and accessory.
Clear identification will help your team quickly find isolation points, retrieve devices and personal padlocks faster, and apply lockout/tagout more efficiently.
Brady offers a great range of industrial-grade standalone tag printers that allows you to just walk up and print a new identification label or lockout/tagout procedure.
Quick tip! For a customized look and feel, connect your printer to Brady’s label creation software to add your logo, or any custom picture or font.
LOTO Accessories and Devices
Accessories and devices can further support your lockout/tagout program implementation.
For instance, hasps are useful for larger teams who are servicing a single machine since they allow more people to add their padlock to a single lockout device.
Lockboxes are interesting when larger groups of people or even various shifts are performing maintenance operations on the same machinery, and belt pouches can allow you to carry a few locks at once to move several devices.
Since machine energy control points are different−valves, buttons, and levers, a dedicated lockout device to lock and isolate machinery from its energy is key.First, identify the energy control points for every machine on-site. Then, select the device you need.
Brady offers durable lockout devices for every energy control point. We want to introduce you to two user-friendly solutions.
Brady’s User-Friendly Lockout/Tagout Devices
Brady Plastic Pendant Control Safety Cover
If you work in an environment where there’s a nonoperational overhead crane or mechanical hoist, controlling access to their buttons means extra safety for your workers.
Brady’s new pendant control safety cover is an innovative lockout/tagout solution that allows complete access management to crane and hoist pendant buttons. It covers a wide range of pendant controls to prevent anyone from pressing any buttons unintentionally or unknowingly.
Supervisors or workers doing their jobs outside the crane operator sight can keep the padlock keys to avoid unsought use of equipment.
Simple to Use
Since all pendant controls vary greatly, Brady Pendant Control Safety Covers make it easy to secure a variety of sizes. This lockout/tagout solution is a practical and extendible tool that fits all pendant controls ranging from 10 to 45 cm in length.
You can put it on easily. Its flexible locking cinch offers a snug fit around a wide variety of cables. Its four rigid sides are interconnected to let it be folded flat for easy transportation. When you’re not using the pendant control cover, you can easily flatten it, store it, and take it wherever it’s needed. Ideal for keeping your team safe!
- SPI product number: XL-151252, XL-150587
- Small pendant cover dimensions: 9'' x 40''
- Large pendant cover dimensions: 5.25 '' x 20'' x 2''
- Room for up to four padlocks
- The four sides feature a unique hard-cover design to further prevent fingers from getting access to buttons
- Designed to fit a variety of pendant sizes, they adjust to the specific size you need
Brady Pull Handle Butterfly Valve Lockout
Are you using an ill-fitting, two-piece, or temporary lockout solution for your pull handle valves?
The Pull Handle Butterfly Valve Lockout is your new one-piece safety device. Its fold-over design allows to lock handles in any position, and its anti-pivot lockout device fits a variety of pull handle butterfly valve sizes for complete protection.
This user-friendly one-piece tool holds in place whether employed or stored. No matter what industry you’re in, it helps improve the lockout of your butterfly valves.
And that’s a welcome addition to any lockout program.
- SPI product number: XL-170220
- Holds up to four padlocks for optimal safety
- Perfect for these industries: environments where hygiene is crucial such as food and beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical, or water utilities.