To open or close a gate valve, you only have to turn the handwheel. The handwheel engages the valve’s gate, which can either allow or block the flow of the fluid in the pipe.
Stopping the flow of fluid in certain pipes can be a part of a company’s lockout tagout program. In a program like this, employees will have to lock the gate valve while repair or maintenance procedures are underway. This keeps repair or maintenance personnel safe from accidental re-energization.
Once these procedures are done, employees will have to follow lockout tagout protocols when removing locks and tags. Unlocking a gate valve lock entails unlocking and removing the personal safety padlock securing it. The handwheel will then be accessible and the valve can be opened or closed.