understanding safety lockout tagout： a critical safety protocol for industrial workplaces
Release time:2025-09-16 16:47:32
Safety Lockout Tagout (LOTO) is an essential safety protocol that plays a crucial role in preventing accidents and protecting workers in various industries, especially those involving machinery, electrical systems, and hazardous materials. This safety practice ensures that equipment or machinery remains in a safe and non-operational state while maintenance, repair, or servicing is taking place. By locking out and tagging out energy sources, workers are protected from potential injuries caused by accidental activation or unexpected energy release. In this article, we’ll delve into what Safety Lockout Tagout entails, why it’s important, and how it should be implemented.
What is Safety Lockout Tagout?
Lockout Tagout (LOTO) refers to a set of safety procedures used to control hazardous energy during the servicing or maintenance of machinery or equipment. These procedures involve two main components： lockout and tagout.
Lockout refers to physically locking the energy-isolating devices (such as switches, valves, or circuit breakers) in the off position, preventing machinery from being accidentally powered on while workers are conducting repairs or maintenance.
Tagout refers to placing a warning tag on the lockout device, which serves to communicate the status of the equipment and clearly indicates that it should not be operated.
