How to choose a lockout device?

In industrial, manufacturing, and laboratory environments, lockout devices are essential to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations and guidelines. Lockout devices are usually used to shut down or lock dangerous machinery during maintenance or repair work, which ensures that no injuries are caused to personnel performing maintenance. Lockout devices come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and devices, such as tags, buckles, kits, circuit breaker switch lockout devices, energy isolation devices, and switch lockout devices. So, it is very important to choose the right lockout device. Next is the purchase guide.

Here is the content list:

• Type of lockout device
• Equipment requirements

Type of lockout device

Lockout devices work with fixed energy sources, so they cannot be opened. The equipment is usually locked in place with a safety padlock, so only the worker who placed the lockout device can remove it.

Hasp

The buckle isolates the energy source and holds multiple padlocks to ensure that the equipment cannot be energized until all workers remove the padlocks. This is especially important in the case of group locking.

Plug lock

The plug lockout device closes the tip of the plug so that it cannot be plugged into the power source. The device must be large enough to completely enclose the plug.

Breaker lock

The breaker lock locks the breaker in the OFF position. Many devices snap or clip into place. It is important to choose the correct size. When the application is locked, the switch should be completely safe.

Valve lock

The valve lock is used to prevent the machine on which the valve is operating from being energized. There are 3 common valve-lock types:

The gate valve lockout device contains the gate valve handle, so it cannot be turned. The lockout device must be able to rotate freely around the handle.

The ball valve lockout device locks the energy-carrying pipeline by fixing the valve handle.

The butterfly valve lockout device slides onto the butterfly valve clamps it in place and locks the valve in the closed position.

Button lock

The button lockout device covers the electrical panel and common buttons on some machines, so the button cannot be pressed.

Cable lock

Cable lockout devices are suitable for a variety of locking applications, usually when handles, levers, or switches are difficult to reach or other equipment is not suitable. The cable around the relevant valve handle or switch is then locked in place with a locking padlock. Some devices include a tightening or squeeze component to allow the cable to lock as easily as possible.

Equipment requirements

The lockout device must be able to withstand the conditions of the workplace. In addition, the lockout device must be standardized according to color, shape, or size. It must also indicate the identity of the employee who placed it. In other words, the lockout device must be reliable and easy to identify. Lockout devices should be tested before use in actual locked conditions to ensure that they work as designed. Standardization and personalization help determine the purpose of the device and firmly establish the identity of the person who can place or remove a given device.

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