To ensure employee safety in industrial or manufacturing environments, managing hazardous energy is essential. A lockout program establishes clear rules and provides the tools needed to protect workers while ensuring compliance with current legislation.
Implementing an effective lockout system requires a clear methodology, structured foundations, and solid expertise. That’s why the Fabtech ID team is here to support you in deploying a comprehensive and high-performance lockout system.
Here’s how Fabtech ID supports you through every stage of implementing your lockout system:
- Assessment of your current situation. Fabtech ID experts conduct a detailed assessment of your existing lockout processes, evaluating the consistency of your practices and identifying areas for improvement.
- Lockout program development. Working closely with your team, Fabtech ID develops a detailed program to control hazardous energies and ensure the safe and reliable shutdown of each piece of equipment.
- .Equipment coding and identification of lockout points. Fabtech ID’s experts help you assign clear labels to each piece of equipment and isolation point. The coding system must be simple and easy for workers to understand in order to avoid confusion and reduce risks. Each code must be unique, and all identification points must be clearly visible.
- Creation of lockout procedure sheets. These lockout sheets provide detailed step-by-step instructions for locking out equipment. Fabtech ID analyzes equipment on-site to identify all energy sources and then creates an individual lockout sheet for each piece of equipment. The lockout sheets are then verified by internal personnel from the client company. This step is critical and must be handled by qualified and experienced staff. For example, electrical isolation points must be reviewed by a certified electrician. Each sheet includes precise steps such as machine identification, shutdown devices, and isolation mechanisms. It also specifies their location, the type of energy involved, required materials, instructions for lockout tagout, and procedures for restarting. It concludes the restart steps, methods for releasing residual energy, and testing instructions.
- Development of the required materials list. Once all isolation points have been identified, the required accessories—such as padlocks, boxes, and lockout devices—must be determined. Each lockout sheet informs workers of the materials they’ll need. It is essential that all required materials are readily available at lockout stations. Fabtech ID offers a wide selection of accessories and can even use 3D printing to create custom solutions when needed.
- Installation of lockout devices. The installation of the appropriate lockout material can be carried out by Fabtech ID’s team, in collaboration with your internal staff.
- Training. Employee training is critical to the success of your lockout system. It must be both theoretical and hands-on to ensure full understanding. Fabtech ID offers a range of training options, including lockout introduction training, advanced lockout training, trainer lockout training, and instruction on writing lockout procedure sheets.
- System audit. Fabtech ID also provides auditing and regular inspection services to evaluate your system’s performance over time.
The Importance of Expert Support
Each stage in the implementation of a lockout system is crucial for ensuring its effectiveness—both at the outset and over the long term. Proper implementation and ongoing lockout management require in-depth expertise. Additionally, your lockout program must comply with current laws and standards while adapting to specific operational needs.
That’s why we recommend relying on lockout experts to guide you through each step of the process.
Contact us today to discuss your current situation and your specific needs.
