Hazardous Energy

Isolation (LOTO)

Awareness Plus

Rev. 1
© Chevron 2009
 Lock-out / Tag-out (LO/TO)
Purpose:
 To protect workers from the release of
hazardous energy, and;
 To guard against the accidental start-up of
equipment during service and maintenance.

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 Energy Sources
 Typical sources of energy that may need to be
isolated, locked and tagged out include:
 Electrical (electric motors, batteries)
 Hydraulic (e.g. pressurized fluids in hoses/pipes)
 Pneumatic (e.g. pressurized air in hoses/pipes)
 Mechanical (e.g. gravity systems, or spring
energy)
 Chemical (e.g. storage vessels or pipelines
containing toxic/hazardous chemicals and
hydrocarbon/petrol products)
 Thermal (e.g. hot oil lines used to heat heavy
fuel oil tanks/pipe work)
 Pressurized Liquids/Gases (e.g.
hydrocarbons/petrol, steam)
NOTE: LO/TO applies to more than just electrical circuits!
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 Isolation vs. Lock Out/Tag Out
 Isolation of all hazardous energy or
toxic/flammable substances into equipment to
be worked on.
 Two types of isolation used are:
 Closed isolation block valves or
opening of circuit breaker and
installation of Locks & Tags
 Positive Isolation
 Installation of a Blind (spade)
 Removal of a block valve or pipe
spool
 Removal of circuit Breaker
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 Isolation Requirements
 Only a Facility Manager or their delegates can authorize
isolation work.

 During the planning and risk assessment phase the

equipment to be worked on isolation requirements are to
be determined.

 An Equipment Isolation Checklist is required to be

completed whenever equipment with multiple isolation
points is to be isolated for work.

 A General Work Permit is required for installation of any

type of positive isolation.

Microsoft Word
Document

Equipment Isolation Checklist

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 Positive Physical Isolation
 Blinding (spading) is one method of positive physical
isolation of equipment, lines and or vessels.
 Equipment, lines and vessels can also be positive
isolated by removal of a valve or pipe spool and
installing a blank flange (blanking) of the live side of
the line.
 When should positive isolation (normally blinding is
used) of equipment be considered?
 Whenever HOT WORK is to be performed on
the equipment.
 Whenever a piece of equipment in any type
of hazardous service is to be removed from
the job site.
 Whenever a tank, vessel or other equipment
is to be isolated for confined space entry. 6
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 Basic LOTO Requirements
 LOTO is used to ensure equipment to be
worked on can not be activated by locking
out and tagging the equipment’s power
source.

 For Electrical powered equipment its

electrical breaker is to be opened,
locked and tagged.

 Steam Turbine Drivers, etc shall have

their steam inlet and outlet valves
blocked and locks and tags installed.

Note: The removal of a valve handle/electrical fuse, etc.

does not constitute a proper lock out.

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 Basic LO/TO Requirements
(cont’d)
 Lock Out and Tag Out should both be
used, never use a tag alone
 Test the equipment to ensure zero energy
state
 A six hole hasp shall be installed at the
equipments primary isolation point
 The primary isolation point is to be listed 1st
on the Equipment Isolation Point. Example:
(Circuit Breaker of electrical motors)
 If an isolation point cannot be locked out another
isolation point further back in the system should be
identified and LOTO performed there.
 Only the maintenance person who fitted a lock and
tag is authorized to remove it
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 Basic LO/TO Requirements
(cont’d)
 Locks (and tags) are normally to be installed in the
following order:
 Operator Lock
 Electrician Lock
 Maintenance Lock
 Locks (and tags) are to be removed in the following
order:
 Maintenance Lock
 Electrician Lock
 Operator Lock

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 Locks
 Locks shall be used if it is feasible.
(There are a number lock out
accessories now available suitable for
locking out older equipment not
originally designed to take a lock)
 Where applicable a facility’s Operations’
group should have individually keyed
and numbered lock sets.
 Each authorized employee/contractor
required to perform LO/TO should be
issued with their own lockout lock(s)
and key(s).
 Lockout locks should only to be used
for LO/TO purposes.Rev. 1
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 Locks
 One key per lock is ideal. If a second key is
available, it should be under strict control.
 Only individual keyed locks are to be
used, combination locks cannot be used.
 Locks that are used for Lock-out and Tag-
out can not be used for any other purposes.
 A number of accessories are now available
for locking out of equipment including those
not originally designed to take a lock.
 Always use a six hold HASP to install the
lock, and the last hole on the HASP to apply
another HASP.
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 Locks (continued)
 The facilities Operations shall to be
provided with a supply of locks and tags for
operational LOTO purposed.
 The Facility’s Maintenance and or
Contractor employee required to perform
LOTO shall be issued with their own
personnel lock.
 The LOTO keys of the facility’s Maintenance
and or Contractors locks shall be retained
by the lock’s owner.
 Operational LOTO lock’s keys are to be
kept under the control of the responsible
Operator for that shift. 12
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 Tags Used For LOTO

 LOTO Tags are generally to be utilised in

tandem with locks.
 “Danger Do Not Operate” tags to be
installed on any vents and or drains that are
left open to atmosphere.
 Remember that tags only provide
information and warnings to alert workers;
IMPORTANT - TAGS DO NOT LOCK OUT AN
ENERGY SOURCE!

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 Tags (cont’d)

 Tags shall provide warning to

personnel not to energize the
equipment.
 Tags should be of a suitably
durable material for the work
environment in which they are
installed.
 Tag must securely fastened to
prevent accidental removal using
a sufficiently strong self-locking,
non-reusable tie wrap.

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 Tags (cont’d)

Design of Tags:
 Tags are to be standard across facility and
different in design from other
types of tags used for other purposes.
 Tags must be made of a suitable weather
proof & when applicable heat resistant
material.
 Tags should be written in a language
understood by the workforce or may be
bilingual.
 Tags should be filled out using a permanent
marker.
 Must identify who put the tag, the date
installed, the equipment isolated and the Hole to be large enough Hole to be large enough

reason it is being isolated.

Metal ring to strengthen for Lock to pass through Metal ring to strengthen for Lock to pass through
Hole to be large enough
Metal ring to strengthen for Lock to pass through Tag to be plastic material Tag to be plastic material
but coated where writting but coated where writ tin g
Tag to be plastic material
is required is required
but coated where writting
is required

3.0 CM
3.0 CM
3.0 CM
Danger Danger
Danger

Danger Danger Danger Danger Danger Danger

 Tags may be color coded to identify the

This energy source has been
This energy source has Electrical, Instrumentation This energy source has been Maintenace Department Locked and Tag By Maintenance
Operations Department been Isolated by Locked and Tag For Work To Be
Or For Work To Be Performed
Operations Performed
Technical Department
Do Not Do Not
Unauthorized removal of
Do Not Unauthorized removal of
Unauthorized removal of
this tag is not allowed
Operate
this tag is not allowed

(Same Note above in Thai)

Operate
this tag is not allowed
Operate (Same Note above in Thai)

15.0 CM

15.0 CM
Do Not Operate

12.0 CM

12.0 CM
(Same Note above in Thai)

15.0 CM
Written In Thai (Here)

12.0 CM
Remarks: Do Not Operate Remarks:

discipline installing it. (e.g. Yellow

Do Not Operate Remarks: Written In Thai (Here)
Written In Thai (Here)
Operator:
Technician:
Date: Technician:
Date:
Date:
Equipment:
Equipment:
Equipment:

Operations, blue Maintenance and red

See Other For Remarks:
See Other Side:
See Other For Remarks:
See Other Side:
Rear of Tag See Other For Remarks:
Front Of Tag See Other Side:
Front Of Tag Rear of Tag
6.0 CM Rear of Tag
Front Of Tag
6.0 CM
6.0 CM
Operations Tag

Electrical or Instrument Technicians)

Maintenance Tag

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 Remember
 Locks and tags do not isolate energy sources –
people do using the locks & tags.
 Do not rely on another person’s lock and/or tag –
they may remove it without your knowledge,
ensure your own lock and tag is installed on the
six hole hasp.
 Maintenance or Contractor Locks and tags should
only be removed by the person who installed
them.
 LOTO is a control measure that is required as a
part of the work permitting process – it should not
be seen as superseding the need for a Work
Permit.
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 LOTO – Additional Information
 For further information and or instructions for
the lock-out & tag-out system please refer to:
 LOTO Bulletin
 Your companies general operating
procedures/standards/guidelines covering
LOTO
 Your company’s Safety Officer
 Typical Equipment Isolation Workflow

Microsoft
PowerPoint Presentation

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