Elements Of OSHA’s Lockout-Tagout Standard
The elements of Osha Lockout Tagout Standard (29 CFR 1910.147) is a 4-page general industry standard, which was first published in 1989. It was formulated with the single aim of preventing accidental startups of machineries and equipments during their maintenance or service. It lays importance on isolating hazardous energy sources and rendering them isolated. The energy sources include hydraulic, thermal, electrical (stored and active current), chemical, gravitational force, pneumatic and mechanical.
A lockout/tagout program includes 3 basic elements:
1. Written Procedures: These written procedures communicate important information workers involved in lockout/tagout procedures and identify what needs to be done and when. They also prescribe the processes of shutdown, isolation and applying and removing lockout/tagout. Such procedures are only needed for machineries with 2 or more energy sources.
The following should be clearly specified:
– Specific machineries and their shutdown/isolation processes
– Where the lockout devices are installed
– How to de-energize stored energy
– How isolation needs to be verified
2. Training Programs: Training is mandatory for two types of employees, namely authorized employees and affected employees, where the former the people who maintain and service machineries and are qualified enough to control hazardous energies, and the latter are those work in close proximity to the machines/equipments being serviced or repaired under lockout/tagout and need to understand the hazards involved.
3. Timely Audits: Periodic audits ensure that the energy control procedures continue to be correctly implemented, the workforce do not deviate from the procedures and are familiar with their responsibilities. It must take place at least annually. These are also helpful in correcting procedural inadequacies.
Basic steps to lockout/tagout program:
1. Preparation – Think and Plan: Think through the entire procedure. Identify the energy sources that must be controlled and the methods which would be used.
2. Communicate and Notify: The authorized personnel needs to communicate the following to the affected employees:
– The machine that would be locked out and why
– How long will the process take
– Name of the employee responsible for lockout
– Who needs to be contacted for further information
3. Neutralizing the Equipments: It involves disconnecting the electricity, blocking the movable parts, releasing the spring energy, draining or bleeding hydraulic/pneumatic lines and lowering the suspended parts to rest positions.
4. Locking Out: Use lockout devices specific to the machinery. There should be as many locks as the people involved in the process and each person should have a personal lock and key placed on the machinery. Further, it should be noted that locks can only be unlocked by those who installed them.
5. Tagging Out: Tag the machineries, controls, and suspended parts. Tags should also include the contact details of and reasons for locking out.
Verify: Before you continue further, verify if the setup is completely locked out or not.
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Common Yet Useful Lockout Devices
1. Circuit Breaker Lockout Devices: These are automatic electrical switches that are designed to protect circuit boards from overload or short circuit. At Lockout India, circuit breakers are designed to work on most varieties of breakers including single-pole and multi-pole breaker specifications.
These are used to isolate a given breaker in a panel so there’s no further need to lockout the entire breaker. Molded from durable plastics, their basic task however is to detect faulty conditions and automatically open the circuit.
2. Valve and Pneumatic Lockout Devices: Just like electricity, gases and fluids can be significantly hazardous. They tend to move at tremendous pressures and can severely injure if released inappropriately. Valve lockout devices are designed to isolate such hydraulic energy sources. There are different types of available valves such as ball valves, butterfly valves, gate valves, and pneumatic disconnects.
3. Plug Lockout Devices: Portable cords and connected plugs are a common site in work facilities. However, it is important to isolate such electrical sources into a socket using a power plug if one needs to comply with OSHA’s standards.
Our secure design locks onto prongs to prevent them from getting inserted into wall outlets. It can be used with your existing lockout hasps and padlocks.
4. Cable Lockout Devices: This device secures, holds, and locks out electrical power handles and gate valves. Cable lockout devices are conveniently isolated energy and are easy to use. They further ensure successful lockout across multiple energy sources and stop the workforce from actualizing devices while the maintenance is being carried out.
5. Lockout Hasp: Hasp lockout devices are an integral part of a successful safety program. They provide multi-person lockout and multiple padlocks can be applied hasps, allowing the energy to be isolated by more than one worker at a time.
Energy cannot be worked upon until each worker unlocks the padlock. Our wide range of hasps includes dielectric hasps, dual jaw hasps, electroplated hasps, labeled hasps, premier lockout hasps, and non-conductive hasps.
When are these devices used?
– While machinery is being serviced or maintained
– While installing new equipments and machineries
– When a safety device needs to be bypassed or removed
– Moving machineries and equipments
– Any machinery prone to unexpected start-up
Most importantly, whenever a lockout safety device is applied to a machinery, it must remain under exclusive observation and shouldn’t be removed by any unauthorized personnel. manufacturer of lockout products
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Also read: How to Use Electrical Lockout Devices and Equipment?
Also read: Types of Lockout Tags & Its Usage for Industrial Safety
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
- MCB Lockout
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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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- Valve Lockout
- MCB Lockout
- Lockout Padlocks
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Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) Lockout System
A fuse, as we all know, needs to be replaced once operated. These days, most of the circuits come with an alternative and that is a Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB). An MCB Lockout is an electromagnetically device which operates as an automatic switch and protects an electrical circuit from damage caused by excess current or overheating, generally caused by a short-circuit or a faulty design. Unlike a fuse, when an overload is detected, an MCB doesn’t have to be replaced. It can be reset, either manually or automatically and continue to function and thus offers an improved functioning and operational safety without additional costs. In a nutshell, an MCB functions as a switch that automatically turns off when the flowing current passes the allowed limit.
A miniature circuit breaker comprises of two contacts, fixed and moveable. A solenoid forces the moveable contact to disconnect from the fixed one whenever the current exceeds the allowed limit, thereby stopping the current flow through the circuit. This mechanism protects from current over load. However, a bi-metallic strip is used to protect from overheating and increase in temperature. The overload causes the temperature to rise and subsequently, the bi-metallic strip heats and deflects. The deflection then releases the trip latch and separates the contacts.
Miniature circuit breakers serve two purposes. They function as a fuse and as a switch. By toggling the switch to the ‘off’ position, the circuit can be opened for safety and maintenance purposes. Before the maintenance process begins, miniature circuit breakers need to be locked and tagged out. This ensures that they are not accidentally reactivated while maintenance is still in process.
While there are numerous companies dealing in lock out devices, Lockout India manufactures safe, effective and reliable universal miniature circuit breakers lockout devices that work on most circuit breakers throughout the world. They comply with OSHA’s safety standard 1910.147 and ensure that electrical energy sources are locked out for optimum work safety. These lockout devices are manufactured using durable plastics and effectively lock out the circuit breakers. These can be used for single, double, triple and quadruple pole MCB and can be easily installed using a screwdriver.
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- MCB Lockout
- Lockout Padlocks
- Scaffold Tag
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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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- MCB Lockout
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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
- Group Lockout Box
- Lockout Station
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Control Heavy Electricity Flow at Your Workplace
Lockout and Tagout have been widely used by almost every small and large companies across the world to insure safety of their employees or workplace. A large range of LOTO products for preventing any kind of accident at work place and Circuit Breaker Lockout is one of them. Circuit Breaker system are specially designed to protect electrical circuits from damage caused by overload or short circuit. Control Heavy Electricity Flow
To detect the fault condition and open the circuit automatically when there is a fault is the basic function function of a circuit breaker. It is usually used as a manual energy- isolation device by manually placing it in the OFF position. Circuit Breaker system can be of any size and shape. So we will tell you about different types of Circuit Breaker Systems.
1. Types of Circuit Breaker Lockouts
2. Pin Type Circuit Breaker lockout
3. Miniature Circuit Breaker Lockout
4. Large Circuit Breaker Lockout
5. Universal Circuit Breaker Lockout
6. Circuit Breaker Lockout Kits
7. 480-600 V Breaker Lockout
8. Wall Switch Lockout
The Circuit Breaker Lockout has been designed to lockout little circuit breakers and therefore prevent accidental switch on. These devices works with all Lockout Safety padlocks and most hasps.
Instructions For Use
1. Switch “OFF” the circuit breaker handle
2. Place the lockout over the handle
3. Tighten the set screw by hand, rotate the toggle
4. Apply a lockout padlock
5. Make sure the switch is completely locked out and cannot be energized until the lockout device is removed.
Lockout India is a manufacturer of lockout products. They manufacture Lockout Tagout Products under OSHA standard.
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- Scaffold Tag
- MCB Lockout
- Lockout Padlocks
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