Guide

How is an energy isolation (lockout/tagout) procedure written?

A written arrangement that cuts and locks every energy source of the equipment, tags it and verifies zero energy.

All energies

Electricity comes to mind first but is not the only one: compressed air, hydraulics, steam, gas, spring tension, gravity and residual heat are energies too. An equipment-based procedure lists every source of that equipment one by one.

Lock and tag

Cutting is not enough; the cut point is locked and tagged. The tag says who locked it and why. Everyone has their own lock; one person opening another's lock removes the system entirely.

Verifying zero energy

After locking, that energy really is cut is tested: an attempted start, a measurement, a pressure release. Isolation not verified is not isolation.

Working as a team

Where more than one person works, each applies their own lock; the equipment cannot be energised until the last lock comes off. At shift change the handover is written.

In Optifora

The permit module lists isolation steps against the equipment, keeps lock holders on record, and will not close the permit until the verification step is marked.

  1. List the energiesList every energy source of the equipment one by one.
  2. Write the isolation pointsDetermine the point and method for each source.
  3. Lock and tagLock each point; write the owner and reason on the tag.
  4. Verify zero energyProve the energy is cut by an attempted start or a measurement.
  5. Do the workCarry out the work while isolation holds; rerun the procedure on change.
  6. Remove and hand overHave owners remove their own locks; make the handover in writing.

Manage this in Optifora

Optifora is not a single program but a compliance platform assembled from modules. The catalogue states which module is ready today and which is on the roadmap.

See what Optifora is