In industrial and manufacturing environments, worker safety is paramount. One of the key safety protocols designed to prevent workplace injuries during maintenance and repair activities is the Safety Lockout Tagout (LOTO) procedure. This system ensures that machines, equipment, and energy sources are properly shut off and secured before maintenance is performed, protecting workers from accidental start-ups, hazardous releases of energy, and mechanical failure. The importance of LOTO cannot be overstated as it plays a critical role in safeguarding lives and maintaining a safe working environment.

What is Safety Lockout Tagout (LOTO)? Safety Lockout Tagout is a set of procedures used to isolate machines or equipment from their energy sources during maintenance or servicing. The goal is to prevent machines from being accidentally turned on or releasing hazardous energy while workers are working on them. LOTO procedures involve two main components： lockout and tagout. Lockout： This refers to physically locking the energy-isolating device (such as a valve, switch, or circuit breaker) in the “off” or “safe” position. This is done using a lock and key to ensure that the device cannot be accidentally turned on during maintenance.