Safety Spotlight: PPE & Lock Out Tag Out

Posted on by WA Management

As part of March’s Hazard of the Month, PPE, we’re highlighting two key areas: PPE and Lock Out Tag Out.

PPE

person wearing ppe (high vis jacket and gloves), holding eye protection glassesBy law, employers have a duty to protect their workers from health and safety risks – this includes the provision of any PPE required free of charge if a risk assessment finds that it is necessary.

PPE needed to keep workers safe may include:

  • Gloves
  • Boots
  • Eye protection
  • Hearing Protection
  • Safety Helmets
  • Hi-vis clothing
  • Respiratory protective equipment

PPE should not be your only control against a hazard, but may be used to further reduce the risk of injury once other controls have been applied – this will be determined by a risk assessment. PPE may be used to protect against:

  • Extreme temperatures
  • Injuries from falling materials
  • Excessive noise
  • Skin damage from corrosive substances
  • Breathing in harmful substances
  • Eye damage from particles or corrosive liquids

As per The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, employers by law must ensure that:

  • Workers have sufficient information, instruction and training on the use of PPE
  • PPE is properly stored an maintained
  • PPE is assessed to ensure it is fit for purpose before use
  • Instructions are provided along with PPE to explain how to use it safely
  • Workers use their PPE correctly

Make sure you and your workers understand the duties involved with PPE and how to use it correctly with our PPE Online Training Course. Save 10% for March only with the code ‘ppe10’!

Lock Out Tag Out

Lock Out Tag Out Procedure as described in textLock Out Tag Out is a safety procedure which uses isolation to prevent machinery and powered equipment from being used when it is in a dangerous state. This is used to protect workers who work with these machines, or those who carry out maintenance or repair work.

Hazards from non-isolated equipment may include:

  • Electrical hazards
  • Hydraulic pressure
  • Gas
  • Injury from moving parts

The steps to using Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO) to protect yourself and others are as follows:

  1. Plan – Identify the hazards that come from the equipment and how they can be controlled, including any special equipment that may be needed. You should also find out who could be affected, and consult them.
  2. Shutdown and power off  – If there is a process required to turn off a system, make sure it is followed completely.
  3. Isolate – Equipment must be isolated so that the power can not come back on again, which may require multiple actions.
  4.  Lock Out and Tag Out – Isolation alone will not prevent the power from being turned back on by someone else. Follow the LOTO process:
    1. Lock Out – Use your own lock and key to make sure no one can turn it on again.
    2. Tag Out – Attach a tag to the lock to show what is being worked on and who is carrying out the work.
  5. Check and try out – Make sure that all relevant power sources are completely powered down.

Make sure your team know out to follow the Lock Out Tag Out process with our Lock Out Tag Out Online Training Course. Save 10% for March only with the code ‘ppe10’!

PPE and Lock Out Tag Out training courses are essential tools in protecting your workers from hazards in the work place. Make sure you don’t miss out on our 10% off deal on these courses, available until the end of March. Simply enter the code ‘ppe10’ at checkout to save!

Read more Safety Spotlight blogs here

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