Why Lockout Tagout Training Is Important?

By Author: Sachin Gupta
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The control of hazardous energy procedures, also known as Lockout Tagout procedures, are fundamental in assuring safe service or maintenance processes on machines/equipment. Under OSHA’s Lockout Tagout standard, employers are required to establish a safety program which protects employees from energy-related hazards. Without systematic Lockout Tagout procedures, accidents leading to serious injuries and fatalities will continue to occur due to hazardous energy. This program must include effective machine-specific procedures, thorough training and regular audits.

Lockout Tagout Training
The training of employees who operate the machines on a regular basis (affected employees) or those involved in the maintenance procedure (authorised employees) is the cornerstone of an effective Lockout Tagout program. Training is an essential and required component of OSHA CFR 1910.147 to ensure that employees have the knowledge and skills required to understand the purpose and function of the energy control program and to safely apply the energy control measures.

Benefits of Training
Training is a ...
... critical part of every safety procedure for every worker, regardless of his experience in operating the machines. We have highlighted a few key benefits of a Lockout Tagout training for your reference and consideration.

Ensures Safety Procedures are being followed
Occupational safety and health training's main purpose is to encourage action. It raises awareness, provides information, and assists recipients in adjusting to their new duties. Trained employees understand the importance and function of safety procedures and are more likely to implement them effectively than untrained employees. According to a study conducted by Bureau of Labour Statistics out of 613 occupational accidents, more than half had not received any form of training.

Increases Familiarity with Procedures and Machines
When employees are trained, they are required to examine the machine in all aspects, increasing their familiarity with the machine or equipment they are operating. Consistent training makes them familiar with the energy control devices and the Lockout devices used to isolate them. Practical training makes the Lockout Tagout procedures’ application go much more smooth.

Improves Existing Procedures (Employee Participation)
Continuously integrating improvements into the work process is essential, but only when everyone engaged has received the appropriate training. When workers analyse and train for these safety procedures, their familiarity with the machines can make them better understand all the deficiencies in the established LOTO system, which can be worked upon and improved. Employee participation in the designing of LOTO safety procedures makes the procedures more effective and productive.

Increases Productivity and Speed of Safety Procedures
Well-trained and skilled workers can implement Lockout Tagout procedures more effectively and quickly. Thorough instructions and hand-on practice in the use of Lockout Tagout procedures ensures proficiency of the safety procedures.

Makes Employee Confident
Knowledgeable and skilled employees are more confident in their implementation of safety procedures. When employees are clear on all instructions that they need to follow, they are far less hesitant in applying the Lockout Tagout devices and can perform maintenance more self-assuredly.

Creates a Concept of Personal Responsibility
Employees' full involvement in the Lockout Tagout training programme created with their benefit in mind will not only guarantee the effectiveness of such measures but also make it possible to maintain a respectable level of safety and health at an affordable price. Such actions create a sense of personal safety responsibility among the workers, developing a work safety culture in the facility.

Who needs Training?
All the employees working in a facility are required, according to Lockout Tagout guidelines, to have knowledge of when and where the maintenance is being conducted. But certain categories of employees need to have more in-depth knowledge of the Lockout Tagout procedures and what goes into implementing a successful safety program.

Authorised Employees - Authorized employees are personnel who are in charge of executing energy control procedures and completing service or maintenance tasks. These workers must have the skills and knowledge required for the safe application, use, and removal of energy-isolating devices. They require comprehensive training in recognition and understanding of hazardous energy sources and methods and means required to isolate them.

Affected Employees - Affected personnel include those who operate or interact with equipment that are serviced and maintained using energy control methods, as well as those who are assigned to work in locations where energy control techniques are used to service or maintain machinery. They are required to understand that energy control procedures are in place and to not tamper with the machines while maintenance is going on.

Other Employees - All other personnel who may be in an area where energy control measures may be used must be instructed on the procedure and the restriction against removing a Lockout Tagout device and attempting to restart, reenergize, or operate the machinery.

What is covered under LOTO Training?
A comprehensive LOTO training must include -
• Understanding of What is Lockout Tagout?
• How to Identify hazardous energy sources?
• Why is it important in every maintenance procedure?
• Machine-Specific procedures and how to implement them?
• Where different types of LOTO devices are used?
• What to do in emergency situations?

When and How often is it required?
Once employees are trained in the Lockout Tagout procedures, it does not mean that consistent safety measures will be followed. The effectiveness of every training diminishes over time due to a number of reasons like the introduction of new machines or energy sources or changes in job assignments, etc. Whenever an inspection reveals lacking safety measures due to deviation in employee’s knowledge or skill of energy control measures, every employee must be re-trained in the Lockout Tagout procedures. Before the service and maintenance operations start, the employer must give initial training, and if needed, retraining.

Conclusion:
In this advancing culture, a thorough working knowledge of safety procedures will be required with a concentration on quality of effort and what the employee must learn and be able to apply. A successful hazardous energy control programme must include the steps of determining the different types of energies that pose a threat to your employees, putting LOTO procedures into place and training employees in them, and retraining employees to maintain proficiency to ensure that energies are controlled during maintenance or service.

I have 15+ years experience in the safety industry and working for the workplace & employee safety. I want to share my experience and views through online platform which could be useful for others.