Designing a Lockout Tagout System

Don’t be mistaken. LOTO is not something you buy a ticket for at the local newsagency. It is a safety procedure (Lockout Tagout: LOTO) that is used to ensure dangerous machines and energy sources are properly shut off or isolated, and are not able to be re-started until any required maintenance or repair work is completed.

As we know, technology is pushing the world along quickly, and this pace of change should influence how we think
about LOTO in our workplaces. Although many companies are prepared for the ‘now’ and have suitable safety devices
and padlocks, fewer companies have considered the future. For example, when your company has more machinery
in another two years, will you have the same safety system in place? And will you still be using a paper-based permitto-work system? Put simply, the future is now and it is time to begin future-proofing your systems.

Electronic Permit To Work (ePTW) is becoming increasingly popular on Australian worksites. ePTW enables high quality permits that comply with company procedures. It also provides effective delegation of responsibility, notifications of deviations or exceptions, high visibility of work in progress through up-to-date communication, and a complete and comprehensive audit trail. This leads to improved efficiencies and no more paper shuffling.

RFID tags can work hand-in-hand with ePTW. Using decodable radio signals, RFID tags can be allocated to individual isolation points in an ePTW system or database, enabling improved accuracy of isolation points, and conformity to procedures.

So, here’s the question you need to ask: ‘Is my company prepared for the future by preparing for the ‘now?’ Efficient, error-proof electronic systems are the way of the world. 

“LOTO is an investment in your worker’s safety and your site’s ability to run effectively. It’s important to have the correct equipment available on your site, and true cost savings can quickly be achieved through efficiencies in time and accuracy with a well-planned, scalable, future-proofed ePTW system. Our Safesite Program can assist in achieving Industry Leading practice,” says Paul McGregor, National Key Account Manager – Safety & Industrial, Mayo Hardware.

If you are considering a review or update of your LOTO programme, Blackwoods and Mayo Hardware have all the relevant information, including case studies of companies that have implemented new and improved methods.