What are Lock Out Tag Out Procedures and how are they used?

Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO) is a practice or procedure used to safeguard employees from unexpected startup of machinery, rides and attractions, or the release of hazardous energy during service or maintenance. OSHA 1910.147 requires that only an authorized or qualified individual is to perform a Lock Out Tag Out operation. These rules require that all energy sources be turned off and either locked out or tagged out while service or maintenance work is being performed.

When performing maintenance on a piece of equipment or a machine, it must be locked out before performing work. The technician needs to de-energize the power source by setting a switch of some sort to the off position. Once the power source is de-energized, the technician will need to put a safety device on the switch, plug, valve, etc. The technician will need to place a pad lock and a tag (signed and dated by technician) on the safety device. Once the maintenance is performed, the technician will need to work in reverse order (removing lockout device and powering the equipment back on) and finishing the maintenance by testing the equipment.

The LOTO procedure should capture all valuable aspects that a maintenance person will need to know to perform the work including:

1. Equipment being de-energized
   
2. Location of equipment
   
3. Total Lockout Points
   
4. Description of equipment
   
5. Warnings
   
6. Required Equipment
   
7. Potential Hazards
   
8. Pre-Lockout procedures
   
9. Lockout Hazards
   
10. Lockout Procedure
    
11. Additional Information
    
12. Ride Access Control (RAC) is a term used when an authorized personnel performs certain tasks before powering down an attraction/equipment.
    
    1. Announce over the PA system that the ride will be shut down.
       
    2. Lock gates.
       
    3. Verify no personnel is in proximity of attraction.
       
    4. Depress the E-stop.
       
13. RAC is also performed after attraction/equipment has been serviced, mentioned as "bringing the ride back to life."
    

Recently, there was an incident at Disneyland Paris where a worker was killed while working on the "it's a small world" attraction. This is a tragedy that should never happen if LOTO procedures are performed and followed correctly.