How to Use Electrical Lockout Devices and Equipments?
When utilized in industrial high voltage or low voltage applications, electrical lockout devices may help prevent electrical accidents by ensuring that electrical systems are properly shut off. One of the most common methods of preventing accidental or unintentional access to electrical power sources is implementing a Lockout-Tagout technique (LOTO).
Using this secure process, every person working on the same circuit or piece of equipment has a lock that they fasten to a disconnect device before starting their job.
Lockout operations are complete when the disconnect switch or isolation device is free of all locks and lockout devices, indicating that the last worker has granted permission for the line to be re-energized after the lockout operation has been completed.
Procedure to Use the Electrical Lockout Tagout Devices
A normal lockout Tagout method calls for locating all possible power sources. A qualified worker must properly inform on the scope of the operation before they shut down the line or circuit. The following are some of the methods on how to use Electrical Lockout Devices and Equipment.
Locate the process that will follow
Binders or lockout Tagout software may use in your organization. First, locate the steps to use electrical lockout devices necessary for the machine you will be working on and follow them to completion.
According to the manufacturer’s recommendations, this technique should describe the step-by-step approach for shutting down and restarting the equipment. Read More: What Are The Usage Of Electrical Plug Lockouts?
Notify any concerned persons
Any work on the equipment must complete only after all co-workers, contractors, and other parties who may inform of the project’s progress. In addition, if any adjustments need to be made to work procedures, make sure that everyone is informed of these changes.
Find all energy sources
The Lockout Tagout technique you are using should include all of the energy sources that need to be disconnected or isolated. It may even be able to produce images that reveal the specific position of the harmful energy source. Read More: Electrical Panel Lockout Switches With Safety
Turn off the machine
The lockout Tagout method should include a list of the procedures to be taken to do this and specific instructions on how to shut down the equipment. Some devices or equipment need several steps to be completed before they may be shut down. Moreover, Valve Lockout is the major equipment that is used to block harmful and hazardous materials from pipes supplies.
Lockout and tag all energy isolators
Make use of the locks and tags that have been assigned to you. In most cases, this requires permission. If more than one person is engaged in the maintenance or service of the machine or equipment, each individual must connect their lock or tag to the energy isolating device.
From the Loto Kit, using Electrical Lockout Devices and Equipment can improve employee productivity and efficiency. It also prevents issues from arising in the first place, which leads to a safer working environment.
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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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Importance of OSHA’s Lockout/ Tagout Standards
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is a U. S. Government office entrusted with shielding and directing exercises in the working environment. As a major aspect of the U. S. Work Department, they are in charge of implementing well being and well being benchmarks in each area of business and industry. The directions they have instituted particular to ‘Lockout/Tagout’ are intended to ensure faculty dealing with stimulated hardware for the reasons for set up, adjusting and upkeep.OSHA Lockout Tagout Standards
There are particular enterprises that either are essentially not secured nor have their own particular principles on lockout/tagout for the purpose of warehouse safety:
• While there are other OSHA principles that apply for electrical stun and consume danger, the general standard does not matter to electrical risks from work on, close, or with transmitters or gear in electric use (start wiring) establishments, which are laid out by Subpart S of 29 CFR Part 1910.
• Controlling risky vitality in establishments for the selective reason for power era, transmission, and appropriation, including related gear for correspondence or metering (these sorts of establishments are secured by 29 CFR1910.269).
• Agriculture, development, and oceanic enterprises or oil and gas well boring and overhauling are not secured by the OSHA general standard on lockout/tagout.
The safety programs require significant investment a composed program, including gear particular methods must be established and representatives must be prepared and cash an adequate number of vitality detaching gadgets, (for example, locks) must be acquired and kept up and is regularly observed as badly designed. Therefore, a few managers will attempt to fit a circumstance into an exemption trying to work around the LOTO products and devices for direction since they would prefer not to manage the time, exertion, and burden. In any case, these programs anticipate the occurrence of chances frequently bringing about funds in specialists’ pay costs much more than that of the lockout/tagout program-and spares lives. On the off chance that a machine or bit of gear really does not should be stimulated amid adjusting or support, it ought to be bolted out.
A bolt out gadget is intended to physically cripple a bit of gear absolutely, in this manner keeping its inadvertent operation. These can be as switches on an electrical board or chains and bolts on a valve. Pins, key-squares and wedges are altogether utilized as a part of various applications. Just particular locking systems ought to be utilized on particular bits of gear. Where physical lockout is impractical, a tagout framework will give visual cautioning with regards to the threat display. They will regularly clarify the reason a specific machine is out of administration and demonstrate the person(s) in charge of playing out the important upkeep. Labels are just used to give data and are not a suitable substitute for a locking instrument, if locking is conceivable.
Inability to initiate and take after a compelling Lockout/Tagout program can open laborers to genuine damage and even demise. Numerous wounds have been avoided by appropriately taking after these vital rules. The vast majority of it is judgment skills. Like the directions going with any electrical apparatus in your home, the best exhortation is to “separate from the power before adjusting”.
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Never Ignore Workplace Safety
If we say that a belonging can come in a working environment that can only be achieved or attained by keeping the employee safe, if a employee is not safe or does not have safe working environment he/she will never be happy will not religiously work for you and may commit mistakes while working, the mistake can go up to that extent that a working operator can meet with a sever accident and can lead death. Workplace Safety
Definition of Safety
Safety as the word suggest means creating safe working environment like having sufficient amount of light while doing so critical work, optimum exhaust openings while doing some job which may include use of hazardous effluents, use of gloves while working on machines, use of helmet when working on height, wearing shoes when in workshops. Ergonomics is also considered as one of the most important part of occupational health and safety as a proper layout is made and the execution is laid accordingly helps in reducing the chances of workers fatigue. This applies not only to those working on computer workstations but also to those using equipment which are controlled from one place. The principles of ergonomics apply to all workers who spend hours sitting in the same position.
There is one procedure called LOTO (Logout/Tagout) which means no equipment containing hazardous will be back into proper functioning until and unless the hazardous waste has been properly disposed off. These regulations highlight the employer’s responsibility to protect workers from hazardous energy sources, with managers encouraged to develop safety programs that are best suited to their facility. There are many kinds of the Loto Products which help in maintaining the workplace safety for the organization as well as that of the employees of the organization but also in ensuring the ignorance and prevention of various mishaps.
The application of these devices is most common in pipelines where the use of valve is frequent.
(1) Adjustable Ball Valve lockout are the locks fitted on the handles to avoid the escape of the hazardous fluids from the pipe lines.
(2) Valve locking covers are used on the valve having handle made of round shape. These are used to avoid the twisting of the handle of the valve and avoid the flow of the fluid containing element that can harm the environment.
(3) Locks and key safety systems are the system applied where there is a separate room to keep the hazardous waste and used in operating rooms as well as used in FMGC units where safety is considered the top most requirements.
(4) Circuit Breaker locks are used to avoid any accident related to electricity and used where there is complete shut down in the plant.
(5) Hubbell Plugout is the types of locks used particularly on wire having chords attached to it. Chords are nothing but special plug attached to wire to make connection in some electronic devices. The plug outs are used to cover these chords so that the chords are not broken and damaged due to any means as the material used to make chords in plastic which is very harmful for environment as it non bio degradable product.
Conclusion
In all, the loto products with time have proven to be great supporters and helpers when it comes to the safety of the firm and its people. The use of such products should be on a higher note for the sake of individual safety because nothing is more important than the health and safety of any individual be it a worker or the owner of the enterprise. Workplace Safety
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An Insight Into OSHA Violations
While there is no Indian equivalent of OSHA, i.e., Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the United States federal agency that works towards assuring safe working conditions across US, OSHA guidelines are used the world over as benchmarks of workplace area safety. Year after year, the agency of the US Department of Labor releases a list of top ten most cited violations that it comes across during safety inspections across the country. Today, on the blog of the top manufacturer of LOTO products in India, i.e. Safety House, we discuss some of these violations, that feature in subsequent lists. Remember, these are in no particular order.
1: This is concerned with chemical safety at workplaces. Of prime importance is the fact that hazards by chemicals must be identified, and available to/ understood by workers. Signs and right-to-know placards should be used.
2: Employers must provide fall protection systems. Like all other points, this is vast, but employees need to determine if walking surfaces have the strength to support employees. Walking surfaces that are over 6 feet above a lower level must be protected through guardrail.
3: Appropriate LOTO devices must be used to prevent unexpected energization/ release of stored energy from machines.Equipment must be tested to verify the effectiveness of lockout tagout products and other energy control measures.
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3 Common LOTO Safety Range Of Products
Hasps – At ‘Safety House – LOTO’, the best manufacturer of lockout products in India, the product range of hasps includes dielectric hasp, double jaw hasp/ dual jaw hasp and electroplated hasp. But what is a hasp? And what do they do? More than one worker often performs repair/ maintenance on a piece of equipment. Ideal for group lockout procedures, a hasp lets more than one worker to put padlock and lockout an energy source. It ensures that they remain safe. lockout supplier
Circuit Breaker Lockout – Our website ‘Lockout India’ lists an impressive range these LOTO devices that are used to isolate a particular breaker in a circuit breaker panel. Have a look at our Circuit Breaker Lockout page to see our large circuit breaker lockout, MCB lockout, MCB pin lockout, mini circuit breaker lockout and more. These lockout the breakers of all major brands. Once a breaker has been isolated, the whole breaker box doesn’t require locking out.
Valve Lockout – Valve lockouts are used for shutting off gas or fluid valves. Preventing these valves, including ball valve (Commonly used handles that are turned at 90° to shut off.), cylinder valve, butterfly valve and gate valve (These are round knobs.), from opening is important, when repair work/ maintenance is being performed. While gate valve lockouts are measured by their diameter, ball valve lockouts are determined by the handle length. You may also like to have a look at our butterfly valve lockout.
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- Scaffold Tag
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- Lockout Padlocks
- Lockout Kit
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10 Safety Violations At Your Work
Posted On: January 23, 2016
Categorized In: Safety / Security
Written By: Lockout India
“What’s a workplace without safety?” All the equipments we use at home are produced by machines. With people – supervisors, workers, engineers working around these machines, the issue of ‘safety’ comes into mind. Despite warnings and cautions, every year thousands of people are injured or die due to certain violations.
Violations – Safety violations refer to those infringements that are easily avoidable by following some basic steps. These violations are measured on standards set by Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). Violations occur ‘due to negligence’ or sometimes unintentionally. manufacturer of lockout products
10 Workplace Safety Violations
1. Fall Protection
This is the most frequent violation that takes place. The workers need to be provided with standard equipments like toe boards, guard rails & safety nets that prohibit ‘falling’ from heights.
2. Hazard Communication
Workers need to be identified with the chemicals they are going to interact with. The chemical importers/manufacturers need to specify the hazards caused by the chemicals they provide through packet labels and data sheets.
3. Scaffolding
This is a construction standard violation which means accidents caused by ‘faults’. The temporary support created for construction might ‘slip’ due to weak foundation or a worker might slip. This also involves employees stuck by falling objects, faulty scaffold design – connecting hardware, load capacity and suspension rope.
4. Respiratory Protection
The workers need to wear respirators to protect themselves against insufficient oxygen supply, harmful dusts, smokes, sprays & gases. Industries produce the worst of air components. These hazards might cause cancer, breathing problems and in worst cases death.
5. Lockout/Tag out
\Machines might unexpectedly start or release stored energy like electrical, thermal, pneumatic or hydraulic during maintenance & service breaks. These are easily preventable by following the ‘OSHA safety protocols’ i.e. the LOTO safety procedure.
6. Powered Industrial Trucks
The use of heavy lifting machines like mini-cranes, forklifts, platform lift trucks, motorized hand trucks and other fuel & electricity powered trucks could cause serious injuries to workers. The breaches here are: false truck identifications, in-experienced drivers, under-age workers in the trucks, un-certified equipments etc.
7. Ladders
Industrial ladders are tall, unstable & uncomfortably placed there by posing major challenges to workers. The fall or slippage could harm the workers badly. Hence, it is the duty of managers to ensure the ladder’s efficiency.
8. Machine Guarding
Moving machine parts like saws and presses could cause lacerations & burns killing workers. Therefore, all moving machines are required to be safeguarded at all times. Managers/workers must ensure that the stoppers/guards never come off.
9. Electrical – Wiring Methods
Wiring safety is necessary for every worker. Wiring methods include installation of electrical tools in the specified and safety-insured manner. Every step of wiring process like conductors, grounding, insulation or installations should be done with adequate caution by an expert.
10. Electrical – General Requirements
It covers overall safety regulations mainly on new installations. The common defiance’s include mechanical strength, safeguards, equipment durability, connection space, electrical enclosures etc. Only a professional should follow the procedures.
Safety is a ‘serious’ issue which is why Lockout India creates products that ensure safety and follow OSHA’s safety guidelines. The safety equipments of the given violations are available at our store. Plus we have a mammoth set of safety products to ensure complete protection.
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Workplace Safety – The Introduction
Posted On: December 31, 2015
Categorized In: Safety / Security
Written By: Lockout India
Welcome to Lockout India. In this post which is our first, we will try and evaluate the basics of workplace safety, what we do & how we can help. The aspect of workplace safety we are talking about is the hazards caused by machines. A concept called “Energy Isolation” persists to verify the protocols. So what are the hazards? Who takes care of the procedure? What do we do? All your questions will be answered here. The hazard safety is an issue strictly limited to industries and factories. manufacturer of lockout products
What are the Hazards?
Hazards are provoked by energy. Since, all industrial machines require energy of some type (electrical, hydraulic, kinetic etc.), during service breaks and maintenance works; the machines need to be shut-off completely. However, machines running on power could start without warning (unexpectedly) or release the residual energy. Such instances could and have lead to fatal injuries and death of workers.
Some hazardous injuries are: Body fracture, Electrocution, Burns, Cutting, Crushing, Amputations etc. The fatality of the injury depends on the amount of pressure the machine dictates. This is to be avoided in any circumstance using the safety protocols.
The Safety Protocols
In an Ezine Article, we have given a sight into the Energy Isolation process. The safety procedure is known as LOTO procedure (Lockout- Tag out). OSHA also known as Occupational Safety & Health Administration is a prime organization of the United States Department of Labor whose aim is to ‘ensure a safe & healthy environment for workers enforced by certain standards. OSHA includes some definitions and gives out measures to be implemented during Energy Isolation.
Our Inclusion
Lockout India understands the importance of workplace safety and hence develops a wide range of products to fulfill that aim. All our Lockout Tagout products are CE certified that fit OSHA’s safety standards perfectly. Also, one other thing that has not been mentioned above is Tag out. Tag out means stamping a machine as closed. The “Warning” tag put up involves the person’s name, reason for tag and time. Also, some other types of tags are also included like ‘Danger’ tag, ‘do not start’ tag & ‘closed’ tag.
Our Products
Take a look at our extensive range of products. There are solutions for everything. There are group lockout boxes, hasps, valves, MCB lockouts, key cabinets, isolation padlocks, circuit breakers etc. Just scroll the pages or find your product with the advanced search option, add multiple products into the cart and get going with proofing your workplace.
Our aim apart from providing safety-insured products is “Customer Satisfaction”. By providing everything that the customer wants with his/her utmost satisfaction would make us proud. Stay tuned!
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- Scaffold Tag
- MCB Lockout
- Lockout Padlocks
- Lockout Kit
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