Importance of Lockout Tagout in Workplace

1. Importance of Lockout Tagout in Workplace LOTO is a very serious safety practice for every organization that aims to provide protection to its employees. It is designed to help improve safety in a facility. When implemented correctly, it can help to dramatically reduce the risk that someone or something will be in danger when working in or around machinery. Equipment and machinery identified for LOTO are capable of unexpected start-ups, which may result in the release of hazardous energy. Can you imagine how dangerous it would be to simply leave hazardous machines or equipment out on the industrial work floor with just a verbal warning to employees not to use it? Employees may forget or simply ignore warnings and become severely injured by an unexpected outburst of hazardous energy. This is why the lock and tag are so crucial to employee and visitor safety. Remember, when it comes to handling machines or equipment while servicing, only specifically identified employees such as engineers or electricians with proper maintenance training and technical backgrounds are suitable to approach and provide possible servicing.

2. Here are some of the significant points that adds to the importance of Lockout Tagout. However, these are not enough, the list goes on. 1. Guards the employees and shop floor workers from severe accidents and risk of hazards: While servicing and maintenance, workers are the most effected as they are exposed to danger at all times. Any act of negligence leads to incidences. Lockout Tagout acts as life saving devices, which when used properly, following the given LOTO procedures, it protects the employees from the release of hazardous energies during servicing or maintenance of machines or equipment. 2. Assures an accident free workplace: In other words, Safe Lockout Tagout protects the equipment, machine and workplace from damage. It is very important to make sure that we are living in a safe and accident free workplace and this can only be done if we follow Lockout Tagout procedures carefully. It reduces incidences of injury, and increases safety of machines, equipment, employees and workplaces. 3. Demonstrates the concern of the top management towards the safety of its employees: Employees are the most important asset to any organization, and their safety is the sole responsibility of the employer. i.e. the Top Management. Most companies suffer fines and penalties because they fail to protect their employees from accidents and factory mishaps. It is only because they lack concern! Implementation of proper lockout tagout procedure and a successful LOTO system at workplace, depicts the unprecedented commitment of the top management, towards its employees. 4. It builds trust and a sense of confidence in the eyes of the employees: When employees work in a risk- free environment, they work self-assuredly. Building a culture of safety enables every employee to reach home safely, work with confidence and a sense of security. 5. Periodic Trainings and audits help employees in safe isolation:

3. Training is the key mechanism of communicating with the employees of what is expected of them. Proper training is a basic necessity for every employee working on a machine to ensure the continued proficiency of employees in following safe work practices and the proper isolation of hazardous energies. For a successful Lockout Tagout program to be implemented, it is essential that the employees acquire and retain the necessary knowledge and skills required. 1. Helps in meeting the LOTO Compliance Workers servicing or maintaining machines or equipment may be seriously injured or killed if hazardous energy is not properly controlled. Injuries resulting from the failure to control hazardous energy during maintenance activities can be serious or even fatal! Injuries may include electrocution, burns, crushing, cutting, lacerating, amputating, or fractures in body etc. This can not only cost a company, loss of employee, but also its reputation and financial stability. Staying in compliance with the OSHA Lockout Tagout standards, protects companies and establishments from regulatory fines and serious consequences that occur due to negligence. The legal formalities laid by OSHA under 29 CRF. 1910.147 must be taken care of.