What is LOTO and LOTOTO?
For the protection of employees when performing maintenance or repairs on machinery or equipment, the safety procedures LOTO and LOTOTO are both frequently employed in industrial settings.
What is LOTO?
LOTO - Lockout-Tagout
Energy-isolating devices are locked and tagged as part of a safety procedure to stop hazardous energy from accidentally starting up or leaking out while being maintained or serviced. The purpose of LOTO is protecting employees from the unexpected release or energization of stored energy, which could result in harm or even death. It is frequently employed while maintaining machinery that is
- Mechanical,
- Hydraulic,
- Pneumatic, or
- Electrical.
The following steps are part of the LOTO process:
1). Preparation
2). Notify Affected Individuals
3). Shut Down
4). Isolation
5). Manage accumulated energy
6). Lockout and Tagging
7). Verification
8). Maintenance or service
9). Finishing and Removal
1). Preparation
Gather the required tools (locks, tags, & devices) and determine the energy sources & types.
2). Notify Affected Individuals
All impacted employees should be made aware of the lockout & tagging procedure and its justifications.
3). Shut Down
Use the machinery or equipment’s typical shutdown process to turn it off.
4). Isolation
Use lockout tools, such as padlocks or locked valves, to physically isolate & disconnect the energy sources.
5). Manage Accumulated Energy
To get rid of any dangers, release or eliminate any stored energy (Ex: by releasing pressure out or bleeding hydraulic systems).
6). Lockout and Tagging
Use locks and tags to prevent the energy-isolating equipment from being powered up or operated.
7). Verification
Check the machinery or equipment to make sure it cannot be operated and is in a zero-energy state.
8). Maintenance or Service
Complete the necessary maintenance or service chores in a secure manner.
9). Finishing and Removal
After the work is finished, take off the locks & tags and put the equipment back to use as usual.
What is LOTOTO?
LOTOTO - Lockout-Tagout-Tryout
It is a development of the LOTO process that adds a new stage called “Tryout.” After the LOTO procedure, the equipment (or) machinery is tested during “tryout” to make sure it is correctly locked out and cannot be accidently reactivated.
The following procedures are part of the tryout phase:
- Ensure that the equipment is locked out and that every source of energy is still isolated.
- To make sure the device is still inoperative, try to start it using its standard controls.
- Verify that the apparatus doesn’t operate or start up. If so, before doing maintenance or repair work, the LOTO procedure needs to be reevaluated & updated.
Procedures such as LOTO and LOTOTO are essential for protecting employees, preventing accidents, and complying to safety standards in industrial settings. In order to reduce the hazards associated with the hazardous energy sources, it is essential to closely adhere to these procedures.