How Today’s Technology is Enabling the Next Generation of Electrical LOTO
Electrical LOTO programs are important for any safety program.
As we enter a new decade, lockout tagout (LOTO) will remain a mainstay of any safety program. However, as standards and regulations evolve, so must a company’s LOTO procedures, requiring it to evaluate, improve and expand upon its electrical safety processes. Many sources of energy must be considered in a LOTO pro- gram: mechanical, pneumatic, chemical, hydraulic, thermal and electrical to name a few. Electrical energy often presents unique challenges due to its invisible nature—we can’t see, hear, or smell electricity. Yet, if it is left unchecked and an incident occurs, it can be one of the most fatal and costly. Regardless of the industry, one thing that all modern manufacturing facilities have in common is the presence of electricity. From heavy industry to commercial and everything in between, identifying and controlling electrical hazards is an important part of every safety program.
When thinking about electrical hazards, it is important to take a comprehensive view. Not only does electricity impact all facilities, but it also impacts everyone present at the worksite. Electrical safety programs must address not just electrical work, but also electrical hazards encountered during normal plant operations as well as routine maintenance, un- scheduled service, cleaning, and repair situations. An electrical safety program will impact electricians, non-electrical maintenance workers, technicians, operators, cleaning crews and groundskeepers.
As manufacturing processes become more connected, it is not uncommon to see the need for multiple trades to access electrical equipment increase, and more distractions introduced. Even the best workers have bad days, and experienced workers can become complacent. Consequently, most incident investigations reveal multiple errors or deviations from the process. To establish a best-in-class electrical safety program, it is essential to look beyond compliance and embrace new technology and best practices that address human factors.
This article originally appeared in the March 1, 2020 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.
