Lockout Tagout Training: 3 Steps to a Turnkey Comprehensive LOTO Procedure

Lockout tagout training is a critical component for safeguarding employees who operate and maintain equipment. The majority of OSHA citations result from improper or lack of lockout tagout procedures, documentation, annual inspections, or other elements. 

ESS will take the aggravation out of developing your procedures by optimizing your lockout tagout program to help you save lives, time, and money. ESS will quickly bring your facility up to compliance and train your employees, saving you time and money.

Our Steps To A Turnkey Comprehensive Lockout Tagout Procedure

Step 1 – Review Of Existing Procedures And Onsite Data Collection

The first step is to identify all equipment located throughout your facility that will require lockout tagout procedures. The information for that equipment will be gathered and entered into ESS customized lockout tagout software. During this step, our technicians will identify and capture images of the equipment, all hazardous energy sources, and lockout points.

If it has more than one source of energy (including non-lockable energy such as gravity, spring, thermal, kinetic, etc.) then it needs a procedure.

Step 2: Building Customized Lockout Tagout Procedures And Customer Review

The equipment procedures will be developed in accordance with OSHA CFR 29 1910.147 based on the information that was collected during step 1. The procedures for each piece of equipment will clearly and specifically identify the scope and the process which needs to be performed to help increase employee understanding and safety. Procedures will be sent to the customer for review to ensure accuracy and approval for printing.

Procedures may be written for the equipment as a whole or for a specific process or task such as mold change, valve change, or similar task that occurs frequently and does not require the entire piece of equipment to be locked out.

Step 3: Installation Of Placards And Training

ESS will print, laminate, and install lockout tagout procedure placards on each piece of equipment. Various mounting styles will be utilized depending upon the environment, location, and type of equipment. During the label application, an ESS technician will also provide training for authorized and affected employees. This is generally a four-hour session.

Lockout Tagout Training

OSHA requires two types of lockout tagout training.

• Authorized employee: An employee who locks or tags machines or equipment in order to perform servicing or maintenance. Authorized employee training will instruct on when and how to apply lockout tagout, and how to handle group lockout and shift change.
• Affected employee: An employee who is required to use machines or equipment on which servicing is performed under the lockout tagout standard or who performs other job responsibilities in an area where such servicing is performed. Affected employee training will consist of their responsibilities to the program and the scope and purpose of the lockout tagout program.

ESS will provide the necessary tools to maintain your lockout tagout procedures for years to come. For more information about nationwide lockout tagout training, contact ESS today!