and personal protective equipment are used when using them . But machinery can also present hazards when it is not in operation and that ’ s why lockout / tagout is governed by strict regulations UK wide , such as
Machinery accidents cost employees billions every year and on average employees who are injured usually have to take weeks off work or may never return .
• HASAW 1974
• Electricity at work Regs 1989
• PUWER Regs 1998 – Reg 19 for isolation from Sources of Energy
• Quarry Regs 1999
• OSHA 1910.147 – Control of Hazardous Energy - osha . gov
The purpose of these regulations is to prevent injury and fatality . Contact with moving machinery and isolation ( including stored energy ) is still in the fatal 6 , identified high consequence hazards .
Employers must develop , implement , and enforce an energy control program in line with regulations . As well and providing the correct Lockout Tagout equipment to fulfill the procedures in place .
RISK ASSESSMENT
Lockout Tagout is a process designed to reduce / eliminate risk , when performing high risk tasks . A risk assessment should be conducted each time a task occurs with potential risk . The machine / task specific written energy control procedures will ensure every task has the risk assessed before any action commences . Potentially a one-off task outside of the norm can arise , meaning any works on said task should have a risk assessment conducted by a qualified & authorized representative to control this project . A newly written energy control program should be completed in case of a future re-occurrence .
LOCKOUT TAGOUT SAFETY CHECKS
Audits and visual inspections should be regularly carried out by a competent person , following the specific guidance outlined through regulations and company process / procedures . At least annually , a full audit and site survey should be completed to ensure that all equipment is of high quality , in good working order & in the required volumes to complete tasks . Additionally , the audit should cover and fulfill any newly updated / improved regulations .
It ’ s also worth noting , any new piece of machinery on site which will require isolation and its energy controlled . Should have a standalone machine specific energy control program written against it ( working closely with the manufactures guidelines on its energy sources and moving parts ) and trained out to all affected employees . All new employees should be trained to the level of every operative on site with
ongoing updates , competency checks and refresher courses conducted .
CONCLUSION
Lockout Tagout is not an optional activity ! The responsibility to govern this within establishments begins at the top . To instill the culture , behavior , and awareness to a high standard throughout .
Major industries are adopting the LOTOTO process due to the awareness and associated real-life risks . It is now being recognised as best practice for safety management in quarries , oil & gas , heavy manufacturing , food processing plants and more . Sectors such as renewable energy , waste and large retail companies are beginning to apply company-wide procedures utilising LOTOTO to ensure employee and operative safety with a structured and controlled procedural method .
We ’ ve got a lot of work to do to lockout machines better and control hazardous energy more effectively . Lockout / tagout is not the whole solution it should be combined with effective lockout training .
At Spectrum Industrial we can help by conducting a lockout / tagout survey to help you identify what you need , you can download our eBook to find out what is involved in a lockout / tagout survey .
Or click
here to contact us .
Remember , “ Short cuts , may cut a lift short !”.
FDPP - www . fdpp . co . uk 17