LOTO padlocks are a link which is essential when locking off energy sources for a machine or piece of equipment. The reason why they are referred as a link is because they are located in the middle of a sequence that begins by placing the main locking device, according to the energy source to be blocked, and a tag which indicates who is authorised to carry out any repair or maintenance work on the locked out machine or equipment.
These locking devices by their very nature, whether used for valves, electrical or pneumatic equipment, gas components, etc., cannot be locked by themselves, and they would require one to many padlocks in order to do so. There are different types of LOTO padlocks available with unique characteristics. When choosing a Lockout Padlock, the following features should be considered,
OSHA compliant Padlocks:
LOTO Padlocks must meet with the following three requirements:
• Be clearly identifiable. This requirement is met by using bright colours that make these devices visible from a distance, as a safety measure in the area where inspection and maintenance work will be carried out on the machine.
• Only be used to control energy sources. These kinds of padlocks do not need to have a high security system. They simply need to be able to close the main locking devices while the inspection and maintenance takes place. In other words, they are designed just to secure the isolation point for safety purpose and are not used for protecting machinery or equipment from theft.
• They should be durable, resistant, and easy to install. The padlocks should be resistant to ultraviolet rays, chemical agents, high temperatures, electrical conduction, etc. which the equipment or machinery being locked out generates.
The importance of shackle materials for LOTO padlocks
The body of most LOTO padlocks is very similar in regards to its durability, the resistance to chamicals and high temperatures and easy installation procedure. Therefore, LOTO padlocks have an ABS resin cover which is resistant to UV radiation, highly flammable environments, etc. The differentiating factor for these padlocks is the shackle material. The various shackle materials used for LOTO padlocks are,
• Chrome steel: Used for machinery or equipment where there is no risk of electrical contact.
• Stainless steel: This provides the padlock with additional resistance in industrial environments with high humidity and salinity levels. They are also suitable for outdoor use.
• Plastic: Used to prevent workers from any possible electrical contact that they could suffer during maintenance and repair work.
Different Shackle Lengths:
Another aspect to consider when dealing with types of LOTO padlocks is the shackle length. Padlocks are available with normal, long, extra-long and even flexible cable shackles. Where does this requirement come from? It is basically down to the existing space in the work area, i.e. the area in which we can operate. If there is only a very narrow gap in which the padlock can close the main locking device, then padlocks with long or extra-long shackles are very useful as they can be put in place a lot more comfortably.
Padlock Colours:
One of the most striking aspects of LOTO padlocks is without a doubt the bright colours. LOTOMASTER LOTO padlocks are available in Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Brown, Black, Violet, Grey, Orange and White.
These bright colours assure the padlock visibility. They help to warn that the machinery and equipment has been locked out for repair or inspection, together with the main locking devices and the LOTO tags which also come in bright colours. They therefore prevent other workers from accidentally starting up the equipment while it is being worked on.
The LOTO padlock colours are also used to mark out access areas for the workers responsible for the repair and inspection work. This happens when different teams are working on a large machine with various locked out points, or on various machines at the same time. A padlock colour can also be assigned to each team member, so that one member of the team locks the machinery with yellow padlocks, another uses blue, etc.
LOTO padlock keys
LOTO padlocks are designed in compliance with OSHA “One employee, one lock, one key” directive to ensure duplicate keys are not issued. The padlocks should also have a key retaining design to ensure that the padlock is not left unlocked. This safety mechanism retains the key in the lock when the padlock is open which prevents the padlock from being closed without a key, reminding the worker in charge of the padlock to lock it.
LOTO padlocks are also manufactured with keyed alike, or even with a master key, in addition to standard keyed different LOTO padlocks.
Having the same key is useful when a worker needs to handle numerous padlocks in a particular facility. However, it is important to note that according to OSHA regulations, a single set of padlocks with the same key cannot be distributed among different workers, as each worker must be responsible for their own padlocks.
Also, master keys are ideal when dealing with large teams that work on a significant number of machines with multiple locking points. By using master keys, team managers can remove any padlock if necessary. The team managers are also responsible for storing the master keys in a place which can only be accessed by them.