P R E V E N T A T I V E M A I N T E N A N C E
It is not uncommon to hear
of accidents occurring when
equipment is being repaired
or serviced, with many of
those occurring due to
energy sources that have not been
isolated, therefore putting workers
at risk of exposure to hazardous
substances, being electrocuted or
injured by moving parts.
All employers have a duty of care
to provide their employees and
contractors with a safe working
environment, and where there is
moving equipment, machinery
and plant items in operation, an
effective lockout/tagout procedure
is a critical component of a safe
system of work.
Lockout/tagout is an essential
safety process that involves
shutting off the energy sources
or limiting access to industrial
equipment prior to maintenance or
repair, usually with a lock and key
based system.
There are many options available
when it comes to lockout/tagout
so a solution should be selected
based on careful assessment
of the potential hazards and
individual work environment:
LOCKOUT/TAGOUT
FOR SAFE, EFFICIENT
MAINTENANCE
Many workplaces require ongoing maintenance and repairs
to equipment and machinery – and whether the result of a
planned operation or unexpected outage – this comes with the
risk of accident or injury.
Safety padlocks – prevent
workers from inadvertently
operating equipment while under
repair or maintenance; can be
provided in a variety of safety
keying systems such as keyed
different, keyed alike and master
keyed; and customised with labels
and photo identification.
Lockout hasps – are useful for
equipment where there are
several areas of operations
happening simultaneously – with
hasps unable to be removed until
the padlocks associated with
each operation are removed,
providing effective multi-person
lockouts.
Tagouts – tagout tags provide
an extra level of information and
indicate that a task is in progress
and identifies that an item is
isolated, in a non-servicable
condition, or work is being
carried out. Each operation –
maintenance, repair, cleaning or
emptying – can be clearly tagged
so it is seen and understood
quickly, and tags are available in
a variety of sizes with different
messages.
Lockout stations and group lock
boxes – provide a central location
and secure storage for keys,
padlocks and paperwork where
group lockout is in place; and
allows for lockout systems to be
stored and transported safely.
Electrical lockout – protects
against electrocution while
working on equipment, with a
range of options including push
button covers, plug covers, and
fuse and circuit breaker lockouts.
Valve lockout – protects against
the leakage of gas, steam or fluids
and can be applied to a variety of
valves including gate valves, ball
valves and butterfly valves; with
multi-valve options also available.
Confined space lockout – confined
space control covers prevent
unauthorised access to confined
spaces where harmful chemicals,
gas, or liquids may be present,
and are available to fit different
sized entry and egress points, with
secure safety padlocks to hold
them in place.
NZ Safety Blackwoods can assist
with implementing a lockout/
tagout system if you don’t have
one currently in place; can review
existing systems; and help
ensure systems are efficient as
well as safe – “Our experienced
team will work with you to
design and deliver site-specific,
compliant lockout/tagout
solutions”.
“NZ Safety Blackwoods Worksafe
Training offers a comprehensive
lockout/tagout course covering
basic lockout procedure, the
correct locations for lockouts,
device selection and more. In
addition to lockout/tagout, a
wide range of workplace safety
training courses are available
– ranging from confined space
entry through to occupational
health and safety – with both
standard public courses and
customised worksite specific
training available.
“Engage with the experienced
team at NZ Safety Blackwoods
who will work with you to assess
your requirements; provide
appropriate training; and
specify and provide lockout/
tagout solutions, maintenance
requirements, and safety
equipment to help ensure your
maintenance operations can be
carried out efficiently and safely.”
32 November 2019