Lukitusmerkintämenettelyt

Lukitusmerkintämenettelyt, often translated as lockout/tagout procedures, are safety protocols designed to prevent the accidental startup of machinery or equipment during maintenance, servicing, or repair. The primary goal is to protect workers from hazardous energy sources that could cause serious injury or death.

These procedures involve the physical application of a lock and a tag to an energy-isolating device. The lock prevents the device from being operated, while the tag provides information about the person who applied it, the date, and the reason for the lockout. This ensures that only the authorized individual who locked out the equipment can remove the lock and restart the machine.

Key elements of a lockout/tagout procedure include identifying all hazardous energy sources, such as electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, and thermal energy. Workers must be trained on how to identify these sources and the specific steps required to isolate them. Before any work begins, all affected employees must be notified, and the equipment must be de-energized and verified as such.

The process typically involves a series of steps: preparation, notification, shutting down the equipment, isolating energy sources, applying locks and tags, verifying isolation, performing maintenance, removing locks and tags, and finally, notifying affected employees that the work is complete and the equipment is ready to be restarted. Proper training and adherence to these procedures are crucial for workplace safety.