A lockout tagout program is highly effective in improving electrical safety in the workplace. It ensures that there is a secure and physical restraint on an electrical power source. This way, a locked-out machine or piece of equipment cannot be plugged back in. This greatly reduces the chances of someone accidentally or unintentionally starting the machine back up.
Only the individual or team that locked out the machine will be able to remove the locks and restraints. This ensures that no unauthorized or uninvolved personnel will remove the locks before the machine can be safely re-energized.
An electrical LOTO program also includes the use of tags that display information like who installed the locks, why the locks were installed, when, and more. These tags can serve as a visual warning that tells other employees not to tamper with or attempt to remove the locks.
Additionally, LOTO programs are often designed to be simple and easy to learn and follow. Employees will not have to learn long and complicated procedures that will leave a lot of room for error. This simplicity greatly contributes to the effectiveness of LOTO programs.