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Setting a New Safety Standard with Digital Lockout/Tagout
Managing costs and budget: Implementing a digital lockout tagout system can be costly, including the expenses for new equipment, software, and training. To manage these costs, it’s important to develop a clear budget and explore funding options or grants available for safety improvements. Conducting a cost-benefit analysis can help justify the investment by highlighting long-term savings from reduced accidents and improved efficiency.
Is Digitized Lockout Tagout Setting a New Safety Standard?
While the benefits of digital lockout tagout systems are clear, it’s important to remember that their effectiveness hinges on the quality of the data and procedures put into them. As the saying goes, “Garbage In = Garbage Out.”
To ensure a successful digital lockout tagout system, involving the most experienced Subject Matter Experts and knowledgeable employees is essential. These experts can accurately identify the lockout points and determine the correct order for locking out machines or equipment. The primary advantage of a digital solution is its ability to ensure less human error through consistent lockouts—the same order and the same LOTO points every time for each machine.
Adopting digitized lockout tagout systems is about leveraging new technology, integrating expert knowledge and ensuring meticulous planning and execution. By doing so, companies can set a new safety standard that prioritizes the well-being of every employee and fosters a proactive safety culture.
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2024 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.
About the Author
Herbert Post, Vice President at TRADESAFE, has over 16 years of experience in workplace safety across diverse industrial settings, including manufacturing and petrochemical plants. Raised within a family involved in heavy manufacturing, Herb has a deep-rooted understanding of safety compliance and factory processes. He specializes in continuous and additive manufacturing, developing safety protocols and creating accessible, technical safety resources. Herb's work is widely recognized in industry publications, showcasing his commitment to enhancing safety in high-risk environments.