Greetings and salutations! Or as we just say in Texas, “Hello again!”
Dusty Roach
Every year, regardless of the industry, numerous people are killed each year by not practicing Lockout Tagout, also known as LO/TO, not LOTTO. This is one of the easiest things to do in our industry and yet it is often overlooked. It is usually cast off as unnecessary due to workers’ complacency, their years of experience, and/or their ignorance of the dangers when not utilized, etc. One of the main pitfalls, in the education of this topic, is trying to make the subject interesting, relevant, and pertinent in its application.
The layman who is not in the industry is not aware that lock out tag out is utilized every day in our lives whether one is aware of it or not. Virtually everyone locks their doors when going to bed at night, and locks the doors to their vehicle. Why? No one wants un-invited strangers coming into their house or car at night. You do not leave your house or car unlocked for fear it would be broken into. If someone came into my house uninvited, they would definitely encounter some unknown dangers. In case they are slow-witted, I even have signs up, indicating an “unauthorized entry” may be hazardous to their health.
Now in our application of LO/TO in our case—in the oil and gas industry—there are 8 Basic Steps to follow, and they are as follows:
- Prepare for the shutdown…
- Notify affected employees (communication)…
- Shut down the equipment…
- Isolate energy sources…
- Apply LOTO devices to the energy sources…
- Release/control all stored energy…
- Verify the lockout…
- Maintain the lockout…
Additionally, you may want signage of the potential hazards, depending on the magnitude of the hazard, especially if it is an immediate danger to life and health (IDLH). Hazards may include (but are not limited to) :
- Pressure (hydraulic, chemical, pneumatic, mechanical, etc)
- Stored energy (numerous forms)
- Thermal
- Trapped gas
- Electrical
- Any combination of the aforementioned.
- Radiation, explosives
- Unauthorized power buttons / equipment and machinery
There is a wide array of possibilities when discussing the need of LO/TO. Another example at home may be storing weapons in the home. How many unnecessary deaths are caused by not properly storing ammunition and weapons, using gun safes, trigger guards, locks, etc?
Lockout/Tagout is Part of an Energy Control Program. The OSHA General Industry standard that covers all this is 1910.147, The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout). It is all good information that is applicable for work and at home. It is a mandatory topic for all affected and/or potential employees.
The purpose of this article is not to be a “How To Guide.” The purpose is to heighten the awareness and importance of this simple process that is so often taken for granted. Every time I mention this topic before a safety meeting (or to my wife), there is a loud groan of disdain. Are you aware of how difficult it is to make this topic interesting? LOL. Some people would prefer to sort paper clips rather than listen to a presentation of Lock Out/Tag Out.
Compliance with the lockout/tagout standard prevents an estimated 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries each year! You can look that up! Those are the OSHA statistics. Those estimated statistics do not include the non-work incidents. An example is leaving a car running, with children in the car, and one of the kids emulating the adult and inadvertently putting the vehicle in gear. Another example is when kids play with an unsecured, loaded weapon. According to OSHA, lockout/tagout (LOTO) protocols are “specific practices and procedures to safeguard employees from the unexpected energization or startup of machinery and equipment, or the release of hazardous energy during service or maintenance activities.”
Regardless of your life’s experiences, some form of LOTO will help reduce the unexpected and potential catastrophic events. I bet you’ve heard of someone or know someone who has opened a radiator cap, prior to proper cooling, and received an unexpected release of pressure and scalding fluid. There is a warning on all radiator caps, but unfortunately there is no lock out or tag out. Common sense is not so common and yet such things still happen every year, even happening to professionals who have done it 100 times before without incident. Striving for the minimum requirements of the law for compliance is not enough. In spite of thorough training, documentation, and experience, there will always be that one reckless or risk-prone person simply making a mistake, no matter how many times that person may have performed the task before.
So, in conclusion, know the laws. Have policies and procedures in place. Then remember it is critical to monitor and enforce the policies and procedures. Do not be hesitant to take corrective actions for non-compliance. You will have better luck with the LO/TO than the Lotto.
As always, it is not how many hits you have in baseball, but how many times you reach home safely that counts. Be safe! Inspect what you expect. —Dusty
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Dusty Roach is a safety professional based in Midland. He is also a public speaker on subjects of leadership and safety, and he maintains a personal website at dustyroach.com.