Working with certain machinery can be a very dangerous task. Where there is a high risk of injury in the event that the machine be powered on during maintenance or repair, special safety protocols are necessary to prevent incident. Lockout tagout is a procedure that is used in a wide variety of industries. It makes certain that there’s no risk of dangerous machines being powered on when it’s vital that they remain off. This procedure is one that even property managers need to be familiar with, as Lockout Tagout, or LOTO, is an OSHA standard.
When to Use Lockout Tagout
Of course, lockout tagout isn’t needed when performing minor electrical maintenance duties such as changing a lightbulb, in multifamily properties, some of the most common times to encounter the need for this procedure are when working on HVAC units or electrical panels. It is specifically for when there is a risk of injury should power be restored to the machinery or equipment being worked on.
Proper Use of Lockout Tagout
Lockout Tagout goes beyond simply turning a machine off and then cutting the power to it at the breaker. While these two steps alone can prove adequate in shutting down the flow of energy to the machine, they’re not enough to guarantee someone won’t come along and switch the breaker on while the machine is still being serviced. Even verbal communication with your team doesn’t suffice.
After power is cut from the machine at the breaker, the lockout tagout procedure dictates that a special lock be put on to prevent anyone from restoring power. Also, a special tag must be attached to the energy source. The tag must explain why the power is turned off and instruct not to turn the power on. Once this is done, the worker must use an electrical meter on the machine to determine whether the power actually is off.
OSHA reports that the lockout tagout procedure prevents 120 fatalities and 50,000 industries each year. Neglecting to use this procedure when and how it is meant to be used not only increases the risk of injury, but can subject employers to OSHA consequences. One simple way to stay in compliance and protect your workers while getting the repairs done is to call Occupancy Heroes. Our team of professional Maintenance Heroes can help resolve any maintenance issues on your property while taking the burden of OSHA requirements off your hands.
Resources:
https://www.multifamilyinsiders.com/multifamily-blogs/electrical-maintenance-and-repair-whats-the-number-one-mistake-maintenance-technicians-make-while-conducting-an-electrical-repair.html