As a superintendent, you juggle many responsibilities, and the safety of your crew is right at the top of the list. Your team works around sources of hazardous energy daily, posing risks of electric shocks, entanglement, and faulty combustion engines. In fact, nearly 10% of serious accidents in the workplace are a result of the failure to properly lockout and control power sources/motors under maintenance! That means a simple “don’t use” Post-it note slapped on a machine as a makeshift warning isn’t going to cut it when it comes to safety.
To tackle these risks head-on and ensure your team’s safety, Lockout Tagout (LOTO) procedures are absolutely essential. LOTO isn’t just about protecting equipment; it’s about looking out for your team, instilling a consistent culture of safety, and avoiding those dreaded OSHA fines.
Whether your crew members are managing the lockouts personally or not, it’s important that everyone working at your facility is familiar with these procedures, including:
When to Apply LOTO:
A lockout tag should be applied whenever your crew is engaging in service work or maintenance where a machine or power source could hurt them or others. Machines or devices should be locked out whenever:
Who can Apply LOTO:
Only authorized personnel and trained employees can perform LOTO procedures. However, if the lock needs to be removed, but the person who applied the lock is not available, a supervisor may remove the lock as long as all company-established procedures are followed.
LOTO OSHA Guidelines:
According to OSHA’s guidelines, Lockout Tagout devices must be:
Durable: All devices should be made of strong materials that are able to endure conditions in industrial environments
Substantial: They should be strong enough to remain locked, even under strong force or pressure.
Standardized: Devices should clearly identify the employee or employees who performed the lockout tagout.
Identifiable: Devices must also have standardized categories, making them easy to identify – by color, shape, or size.
How to Manage LOTO over Shift Changes:
Transitioning LOTO procedures between shifts requires a meticulous handover process to ensure a seamless continuation of safety measures. When crew members relieve each other from shifts, they should always meet at the Lockout Tagout location to verify that the machinery is correctly isolated, locked out, and tagged out. They should then apply their own lock to the equipment.
We know that keeping your crew safe is easier said than done. Between all your other responsibilities at your facility and those rogue crew members that go off-book, it can be difficult to find the time for safety training! Make your life easier (and your crew’s work day safer) by streaming our library of safety training videos and making use of our handy educational resources.
Remember, safety isn’t just a set of protocols – it’s a culture that must be ingrained to protect the lives of your crew! For an in-depth look into Lockout Tagout, stream our brand-new safety video on LOTO procedures. Adhering to OSHA compliance standards is essential. Our membership offers streamlined access to attendance sheets and quizzes, facilitating your crew’s OSHA compliance effortlessly. Take the steps toward a safer work environment with Golf Safety!
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