Fifteen to 20 per cent of workplace accidents can be avoided with Lockout/Tagout, which is why the procedure should be part of any ambitious go for zero programme that bans accidents from the workplace. Lockout/Tagout can save lives during machine maintenance and interventions in production facilities
Machine specific isolation
In principle, Lockout/Tagout isolates machines from their energy supply during interventions, which prevents them from being reactivated prematurely. To implement Lockout/Tagout in the workplace, machine specific procedures need to list the necessary steps to isolate every machine. Writing these specific procedures requires some expertise and a thorough knowledge of Lockout/Tagout principles. Brady Corporation supports companies in creating and writing safe machine specific procedures based on worldwide best practices.
Easily implement procedures
Machine-specific procedures need to be evaluated by several stakeholders, often spread out over various sites. Brady proposes the LINK360™ software to easily introduce, approve or edit, scale and communicate machine-specific procedures for Lockout/Tagout. Once approved, LINK360 enables users to upload on-site pictures of the machinery and its energy isolation points. Once finished, the cloud-based software can print the machine-specific procedure for communication near its machine.
Tools and devices
To actively isolate a machine in line with the company-approved procedures, a number of lockout devices and padlocks are needed. For every energy isolation point, including handles, buttons, valves, levers and others, a Lockout/Tagout device exists that blocks them in the off-position. A padlock will lock the device itself in place so that machinery that is being serviced, cannot be re-energised accidentally.
With best practice machine-specific procedures, software to easily create and evaluate them, and the tools to isolate any machine from its energy sources, companies can avoid accidents during machine interventions and push a go for zero programme to the next level.
Brady has recently summarised useful information about Lockout/Tagout and released the new guide book ‘Safer machine interventions’.
