Collection: Electrical

Electrical lockout tagout is the process of locking and tagging sources of hazardous energy. These energy sources supply power to a variety of machines that need routine maintenance and servicing. To protect maintenance and repair workers from accidents and injuries, hazardous energy sources need to be shut down.

The use of energy isolation devices or lockout tagout devices physically restrains electrical power sources from accidental or unintended re-energizing. These devices include circuit breaker locks, plug locks, and cable locks. They are secured with personal safety locks and subsequently outfitted with tags that include important information about the lockout tagout procedure in place.

What is the purpose of lockout tagout during electrical maintenance?

What is the lockout tagout method used in electrical work?

Why is electrical safety important?

How does lockout tagout improve electrical safety?

What are common hazards when working with electrical?

Is visual communication helpful in electrical safety?

What is an OSHA-compliant Electrical Safety Program?

What is the most common OSHA electrical violation?

Is it necessary to wear PPEs when installing lockout tagout during electrical maintenance?

People Also Ask

What is an electrical panel lockout and switch lockout?

Electrical panel lockouts and switch lockouts are detachable push button and rotary switch covers that prevent unauthorized access to switches or controls. These LOTO devices are simple and easy to install, but are effective in preventing accidental switch or control activation. Oftentimes, electrical panel lockouts and switch lockouts can be installed with just a few screws or a double-sided adhesive tape.

What comprises an electrical lockout kit?

There are different kits available for every workplace. The size and range of products in the kit depend on the number of employees, workplace size, and the type of machinery and equipment to be locked out. Generally speaking, the average electrical lockout kit contains the following items:

•   Padlocks
•   Hasps
•   Circuit breaker lockouts
•   LOTO tags and ties
•   Plug locks
•   Ball valve locks
•   Gate valve locks
• Carrying Pouch

Who is responsible for the implementation of the lockout tagout program?

Lockout tagout cannot be performed by one worker alone. Everyone in the workplace has the responsibility to learn and uphold the lockout tagout program. The tasks are divided as follows:

Managers

•   Drafting, updating, and reviewing LOTO procedures
•   Identifying the people and equipment covered by the LOTO program
•   Purchasing the necessary personal protective equipment to comply with the program
•   Ensuring that the implementation of the LOTO procedures is compliant with OSHA standards

Supervisors

•   Distribution of personal protective equipment to employees
•   Enforcement of proper usage of PPE
•   Establishing the appropriate LOTO procedure for each piece of equipment
•   Monitoring the LOTO performance of employees and authorized personnel

Authorized personnel

•   Execute the LOTO procedures
• Report any issues in the program

How to lockout a circuit breaker?

Circuit breakers come in different models and sizes. Each circuit breaker type requires a specific circuit breaker lockout design for the lockout to be effective. Some common types of lockouts are clamp-on, tier bar, pin-in, and pin-out lockout.

These devices can be easily installed to the circuit breaker because of their convenient thumb screw or push button design. Once the circuit breaker lockout is affixed to the breaker, the authorized worker can use a padlock to securely keep the lockout in place and accompany it with a tag to relay information to other workers.

What is the purpose of lockout devices for circuit breakers?

Circuit breakers need to be locked out to prevent electric shock during LOTO procedures. Circuit breaker lockout devices are designed for use during these situations. With a circuit breaker lockout, the circuit breaker can remain in the OFF position while LOTO procedure is ongoing. These safety devices protect employees by effectively de-energizing energy sources.

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ChatCollection FAQs

A proper electrical lockout tagout procedure can help ensure the safety of maintenance and repair personnel. The procedure is meant to effectively prevent the accidental or unexpected re-energization of machines or equipment. By locking out the sources of hazardous energy, employees are protected from accidents that can cause injury or even, in some cases, death.

One lockout tagout method used in electrical work is locking out the circuit breakers. TRADESAFE provides a variety of circuit breaker lockout devices, with each variation designed for circuit breakers of different sizes.


It’s also possible to use plug locks to prevent machines from getting plugged in. Typically, plug locks are best used if employees need to de-energize some machines instead of an entire area in the facility. Plug locks are also secure and can lockout up to two plugs at a time.

Electrocution is one of the most prevalent causes of death in the workplace, and it may only be avoided with proper electrical safety. Electrocutions can also result in serious injuries, which can lead to disability. As a result, because these accidents are so prevalent, it's critical to ensure that personnel is as protected as possible against electrocution injuries.

OSHA guidelines help make sure that your facility is a safe place to work. Your workplace’s electrical safety programs should be compliant with OSHA safety guidelines. OSHA has even published a list of electrical safety guidelines that can help various facilities ensure that they’re reducing as many risks as possible.

Here are some of the OSHA guidelines that can help save a life:

Electricity and water don’t mix. Don’t operate electrical equipment while standing in a puddle of water. Make sure to have an electrician check a machine that has gotten wet before you energize and operate it.
Only qualified electricians can do repairs.
Keep 3 meters or 10 feet of distance between yourself and overhead wires. Always assume that overhead wires are energized, even when they’re down or seem to be insulated.
If an overhead wire has fallen, don’t touch it. Call an electric utility service instead.
OSHA standard 1910.47, or the control of hazardous energy, also includes protocols and regulations concerning electric energy. These protocols and regulations involve the lockout and tagout of all sources of hazardous energy, including electricity.

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.

While electricity can be dangerous, we have harnessed it well enough that we can use it safely by reducing the risks of harm and accidents. Even so, it’s still important to be mindful of the common hazards that come with working with electricity. These hazards include:

Accidental re-energizing

The accidental re-energizing of a machine that’s under repair or maintenance can cause electric shock.

Water

Water is known to conduct electricity very well. Because of this, water can cause shock or electrocution.

Electrical wires

Touching or bumping into overhead electrical wires can also cause electrocution. It’s also important to make sure that if you are holding or touching a ladder or any other object, it won’t touch the wires either.

Faulty, frayed, or improper wiring

Faulty wiring can cause shock, electrocution, arc flashes, and more. Damaged wires can be harmful as well and will need to be repaired or replaced.

Arc flashes

An arc flash is produced by electric discharge traveling through the air between two conductors. It can produce a very bright light and high heat, and it can also cause injury to anyone nearby.

A proper lockout tagout procedure, proper application of LOTO devices, and effective visual communication can help employees avoid these hazards in the workplace.

Visual communication is an effective and proven way to improve electrical safety. Things like warning signs, warning labels, written instructions, and the like can help prevent people from making dangerous mistakes.

In lockout tagout procedures, visual communication is quite important. For example, all devices come in bright and highly noticeable colors, most often red. Other colors include yellow, blue, green, orange, and purple. These colors are meant to be eye-catching and hard to miss.

Lockout tagout tags also present a good way to visually communicate with others. These tags often come in white and bright red or green, with big and bold font. The words “Warning” or “Danger” are also prominently displayed and easily readable even from several steps away. LOTO tags are meant to effectively communicate to others that a lockout tagout procedure is taking place.

However, it’s important to understand and remember that visual warnings are not enough to safely deter others from re-energizing a machine that’s still under maintenance. Warning signs and labels will not physically stop people from unknowingly or accidentally plugging in a machine, turning a valve, or flipping switches to their “on” position.

Thus, locks are still the more important part of lockout tagout procedures. Visual communication is vital as well, but physical locks are more effective at ensuring that employees are kept safe.

OSHA electrical safety is separated into industry-specific electrical standards, with various subsections for each. It includes 1910.137, 1915.181, 1917.157, 1926.407, and 1926.950.

General guidelines for electrical safety in accordance with the OSHA standards include:

Before application, all electrical equipment must pass visual inspections.
Equipment should be utilized just for its intended purpose.
Never use defective or unauthorized equipment.
Ensure that all power systems, electrical equipment, and electrical circuits are correctly grounded at all times.
Never use portable electric tools or equipment in wet areas or near exposed wires.
Adhere to all lockout tagout procedures.
Only use non-conductive materials like wood or fiberglass while working near electrical lines.

The failure to regulate hazardous energy was the most commonly reported electrical violation in OSHA's Top Ten Most Cited Safety Violations in 2020. Correspondingly, Lockout Tagout (LOTO) is a common practice in the industrial sector for regulating hazardous energy and preventing accidents. Because of this, OSHA requires industrial establishments to have a proper lockout tagout program.