LOCKOUT TAGOUT

Energy, which is required for the operation of work equipment, also poses a potential danger to humans and equipment itself. We are talking about electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal and all other energies, the operation of which can result in a detrimental impact on man or equipment. When servicing and maintaining work equipment, unexpected start-ups or energy releases can cause serious injury or even death.

What are the adverse effects of the release of hazardous energy?

If hazardous energy is not properly controlled, workers who repair or maintain machinery and equipment may be seriously injured or killed. Injuries may include electric shock, burns, cuts, fractures and more. Examples of such accidents are:

• Automatic switching on the steam valve while the worker repairs the pipeline causes burns.

• The jammed transport system suddenly releases and crushes a worker trying to break the deadlock.

• Short circuit inside wired equipment shakes the worker who repairs the equipment.

Craftsmen, electricians, machine operators and other workers who routinely operate equipment face the greatest risk of injury. Workers who have been injured in the workplace due to exposure to hazardous energy require an average of 24 working days of sick leave for rehabilitation. In addition, unwanted release of hazardous energy causes damage to machinery and equipment. Inadequate control of the release of hazardous energy may cause stagnation in operation and high repair costs.

What can we do to effectively control hazardous energies?

Almost ten per cent of the industry's serious accidents are caused by poor control of hazardous energy. Appropriate control can be achieved with a well-designed Lo-To (Lockout Tagout) system, which protects workers from unwanted energy releases.

Lo-To (Lockout Tagout) is a system that effectively prevents unwanted release of hazardous energy in maintenance, start-ups, shutdowns, cleaning, control and other interventions in work equipment and electrical and mechanical installations. It ensures a very high level of safety for all involved in process and prevents damage to work equipment and installations. Because of very positive effects for companies, the system implementation is expanding very rapidly and is present in an increasing number of recognized global and Slovenian companies and their subsidiaries.

The Lo-To instructions help employees avoid errors and reduce the risk of accidents and injuries. The well-designed Lo-To system reduces downtime and thus improves productivity. The Lo-To system is implemented based on manufactured policy and procedures by means of appropriate equipment such as safety padlocks, locks, safety plates, tags, identification systems and more. In addition to equipment, Nexum offers users all support in the design, implementation and maintenance of the system. We also provide training for employees for the appropriate qualifications.

You can read more about our offer from Lo-To (Lockout Tagout) here. Experienced consultants will be happy to help you choose the optimal solution for your needs. Contact our specialist for assistance.