Locking Out Equipment

When we clean, repair, adjust or maintain systems or mechanical equipment, we have to follow procedures for locking out that equipment. 

It doesn’t matter how short or simple the job is. When working on equipment like conveyors, presses, roasters, hoppers, and meat slicers, the first step is to lock out the system. 

Many of the injuries that occur during equipment service and maintenance are caused by machine parts that move because they were not locked out. The usual excuse is that lockout procedures are complicated and take too long. Ask yourself this: would you rather spend time locking out equipment or lying in a hospital bed, missing limbs, or worse?

What is Lockout? 

Lockout means bringing every power source in a machine or system down to a zero energy state. Some equipment can simply be switched off and locked out of service, but in many cases, the system involves several energy sources. For example, a press may be hydraulically powered, but electronically controlled. Locking out the hydraulic power is not safe enough. Locking out the electricity may not even be safe enough. Gravity can still cause a raised arm to drop because of its own weight. There may also be stored energy in pistons or springs. 

It makes sense to follow your workplace’s established procedures for locking out equipment. In many cases, these procedures have been tested and proven by time and experience. 

There are 4 basic actions in any lockout procedure: 

• Identify all energy sources connected with the work. 
• Disable, redirect, or stop all energy from doing what it normally does. 
• Apply restraint devices to prevent the system from starting up while you work on it. 
• Confirm that you’ve reached a zero energy state. 

Lockout procedures are not just for complicated machines and systems. Here are a few simple steps to protect yourself and others: 

• Put blocking under the arm of a backhoe while you replace a hydraulic cylinder. 
• Lock out the electrical plug of a meat slicer while you clean it, either by placing a small lock through the hole in one of the prongs of the plug, by placing the plug in a lockout device, or by simply putting the plug in your pocket while you work on the machine. 
• Lock out an electrical panel while you relocate lighting stringers 

Remember...Don’t take chances. When in doubt, lock it out.