A Guide to OSHA Lockout Tagout Training

OSHA Lockout Tagout training prevents over 50,000 workplace injuries a year. It keeps businesses running, improves productivity, and brings a sense of peace to workers.

Despite this, it's often overlooked when it comes to workplace safety training. Employers might not understand the benefits of training employees with this procedure. They sometimes don't understand what LOTO involves or how it'll keep employees safe.

We're here to help guide you through all this and more. Keep reading to understand the key aspects of this life-saving training procedure!

Workplace Benefits

The first step to Lockout Tagout (LOTO) is understanding why your workplace needs LOTO above all other types of training. At its core, Lockout Tagout is a procedure that safely shuts down a machine in a way that makes it clear that it cannot and should not be restarted.

If a worker needs to shut down a machine for maintenance, they need to know that they'll remain safe throughout the entire fix.

The LOTO system gives them this peace of mind, and it keeps the entire team on the same page. It ensures that every time a machine starts back up, no life is in danger.

You'll keep employees safer, prevent workplace injuries, avoid longer downtime, and maintain smooth operations.

Who Receives Lockout Tagout Training?

Not everyone needs in-depth workplace training in the LOTO system. The main focus of the system will be those with maintenance skills or those with work tasks that could expose them to harm.

People affected by the machine shutting down should also take part in the training. They may not have the authorization to implement LOTO, but they need to what to do (or not do) when LOTO is in place.

What Does Lockout Mean?

The 'lockout' part of LOTO means much like how it sounds. It's a physical way that the machine or system is locked in a powered-off state. Often this uses a colorful padlock which has a single key so that no one else can unlock the machine except for the authorized person who originally locked it.

What Does Tagout Mean?

When you 'tagout' a machine, it's when you place a visible warning on the operating panel. The purpose of it is to warn anyone else in the building that the machine is down for a reason.

This often is a brightly colored tag with a person's signature or name written upon it. It needs to be eye-catching so that no one mistakenly messes with the machine while someone works on it.

Understanding the Procedure

Much like other safety training, there are certain ways to ensure your workplace stays within OSHA compliance. When you and your employees go through training, the instructor should outline the things needed to stay compliant.

Your employees may be expected to show their understanding of the procedure. This could be through answering questions or by a practical demonstration of proper LOTO procedure.

It's up to the employers to keep working with the employees until this knowledge becomes second nature.

Work-Wide Protocols

Although LOTO workplace training focuses on training a certain authorized group, everyone in the building still needs a basic understanding of the protocols. Being aware of the importance of LOTO ensures that those actively using the locks and tags remain safe the entire time.

These protocols should be easy to find and easy to explain so that there are no mistakes during the procedure. Be prepared to have meetings outlining the procedure and emphasizing the critical need for everyone to follow the steps.

It's also important to have protocols printed out and ready to give to anyone entering the building during working hours.

Even an expert in LOTO won't know the specific details of your system. Let them know as soon as they come into the workplace so that there are no accidents.

No Job Too Small

During a busy workday, it's easy for workers to think that a simple fix won't require a proper LOTO procedure. They might think that things run quicker if they shut down the machine, do maintenance, and start it back up without LOTO.

This is something you'll need to work to adjust during OSHA training.

Lockout Tagout needs to be done through completion for every single fix. It might only take a minute to repair the machine, but that will still require LOTO. A small error or mistake could lead to an injury that needs more than a workplace first aid kit.

No job is too small to follow through with safety procedures. They're there for the benefit of everyone at the workplace. Emphasizing this idea is one of the main takeaways when it comes to LOTO training.

Record Keeping

Every time your workplace uses the LOTO procedure, there should be a written recording of the entire process. This kind of information aids in improving workplace safety, especially when an accident happens.

It can help showcase what went wrong during the procedure and help those in charge figure out a better solution.

Potential Retraining

Once employees master Lockout Tagout training, there is no need to retrain regularly. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule that you'll need to remember.

When an injury occurs due to improper LOTO, then those involved should go through training once more. New employees will need to go through full training so that they keep up with the safety expectations of their peers.

You'll need to retrain when the workplace LOTO procedure gets an update or change, as well.

Choosing Compliant OSHA Lockout Tagout Training

When you're dealing with the safety of human life, it's crucial to get OSHA Lockout Tagout training from a place that you can trust.

Since 2008, Compliance Training Online has worked with over 31,000 businesses and institutions to better their safety standards. We help ensure that every employee has the knowledge and training to keep the workplace safe for everyone.

We offer many safety courses here at Compliance Training Online. Contact us today with any questions!