Things You Need To Know About Lockout/Tagout Procedure

We all know that a forklift is one of the most important devices which not only improves efficiency of the work but also the productivity of the business. But what if your forklift goes down for some unknown reason and what will be the first task from the facility supervisor? 

The foremost task from the supervisor’s end will be the lockout/tagout procedure (LOTO). Be it a multi-directional or side loader forklift, LOTO procedure should be followed as soon as the machine stops working to prevent the unexpected dangers and accidents.

Lockout/tagout procedure is nothing but a parameter or procedure where the vehicle goes to the shut-down or released from its energy source to ensure the safety of the workers and machines. It is a preventive measure to stop the further damage of the product and machine operator as well. Hence, in this post, let us look at the things you need to know about the in-depth lockout/tagout procedure

How To Create A Lockout/Tagout Procedure?

The most important part in the LOTO procedure is creating the right constraints because it should be so simple that even a new person should understand when he or she reads. The LOTO procedure should be followed in any device like a push pull equipment. So, it is essential to create the lockout/tagout procedure in a detailed way to ensure safety. 

In most of the LOTO procedures, the forklift is attached with a locked box, white, and red warning tag on the steering wheel. So, the lockout device stores the energy and prevents the further activation of the powered trucks. In the case of tagout, the warning tags gives the information to the operator why it is locked.

How Does It Work?

Every forklift works on different aspects but mostly follows the below listed ways. They are,

• Notify the workers
• Use normal procedures to shut down the system
• Isolate the system from other energy sources
• Implement lockout/tagout procedure
• Make sure the system is isolated

When Do You Need LOTO Procedure?

In most of the warehouses and logistics, the LOTO procedure is carried out during the malfunctioning of machines. But, the procedure can also be taken forward during the maintenance. You can implement LOTO procedure during,

• Servicing
• Hot tap work
• Plugging issues
• Normal operations

Hence, these are the essential things that you should know about lockout/tagout procedure. Therefore, approach Horvertinc, the best heavy duty vehicle supplier like ISO container lifting, forklifts, and more for your logistics needs.