What is lockout ?

When the equipment or tool is being repaired, maintained or cleaned, the power source related to the equipment needs to be cut off, so that the equipment cannot be started, and all energy sources (power supply, hydraulic source, air source, etc.) are turned off. This is the most common scenario in electric workshop. So in such cases what tools are generally used to accomplish this?

Lockout is in order to prevent the workers from the danger that caused by the machine start accidentally, the equipment launch abnormal, the energy source release when the worker wants to repair or maintain it. So that it can keep the workers personal security. The Key of lockout is to cut off the connection between machine and power source, lock on the source, release residual power.

After locking the closed equipment or machine, make sure that nobody turns on the value or the switch. Then authorized operator can maintain the machine according to the applied situation of the equipment. At last the operator should recover the equipment and circuit while removing the lockout , and inform all workers when power is restored.

In general, a lockout is a very necessary thing.