Module 3: Basic Safety Rules and Measures in Workplace Hazards

Lock Out, Tag Out and Try Out

What is LOTO-TO?

LOTO-TO or Lock-Out, Tag-Out and Try-Out is an activity to shut-off the source of hazardous energy (electrical,
hydraulic, pneumatic, kinetic, potential, pressurized liquid and gases, etc.) and place a Lock and a Tag into it as an
indication that someone is working on it. The third part, Try-Out, is added to the activity to test the system if hazardous
energy was totally blocked or drained, for example, a valve for steam has been LOTO but it is already worn-out or
passing, trying out the system will identify if the hazardous energy has been blocked or removed.

LOTO: Lock and Key LOTO: Tag or ID (front) LOTO: Tag or ID (back) LOTO: Lock and Tag with Safety Device

Importance of LOTO-TO:

1. To ensure that the source of hazardous energy has been blocked.

2. To ensure that there is no hazardous energy present in the system. Though in some cases, hazardous material
are not totally removed, for example, an LPG piping which even LOTO is present you still needed to flush it with
Nitrogen to ensure that no combustible gas is present in the piping before hot works.
3. To ensure that no one can operate the equipment unless LOTO has been removed by the authorized personnel
(the one who place the LOTO and working on the equipment)

Note:
a. LOTO should not have a master key and duplicates handled by someone other than who is in placed the tag.
b. Who placed the LOTO should also remove the LOTO, unless otherwise the authorized person is unavailable and
PERMITTED someone to remove it.
 If the authorized personnel are out from the workplace and can’t back soonest.
 If the authorized personnel is unavailable due to an emergency or he/she is in emergency.

Prepared by: Engr. Vonson Sani S. Alarcon, Mechanical Engineer