Product, Facility, & Safety Identification Solutions

Lockout/Tagout Procedure Writing: The technology solution that saves time, money, and lives

According OSHA statistics, approximately 60,000 injuries and more than 100 fatalities occur on the job every year, and it is estimated that 10 percent of industrial accidents are lockout/tagout (LO/TO) related. Studies have shown that an effective LO/TO program can reduce accidents by 30-50 percent, and can also dramatically increase your company's productivity by making lockout activities more efficient, reducing downtime.

To make it easier for companies to create, implement, and maintain an effective, OSHA-compliant energy control program, Brady developed Lockout PRO^TM Graphical Procedure Writing Software.

This easy-to-use program allows users to create a lockout procedure in as little as three minutes - a major time saving advantage considering that some companies must create hundreds of LO/TO procedures as part of their formal energy control program.

The intuitive design features and functionality of Brady Lockout PRO software make it easier for managers to create standardized, easy-to-follow procedures. The program was designed to be an easy-to-use solution for a wide range of businesses that need LO/TO procedures, including manufacturing, hospitals, schools, petrochemical plants, and food and beverage processing facilities. The program also simplifies the process of creating and following procedures for outside contractors who may work for multiple organizations.

The key to writing effective procedures is to make them as easy as possible to follow. That's why Lockout PRO features standardized formats that are easily customized and updated. Standard formats make procedures easier to understand and reduce training time.

Creating an OSHA-compliant hazardous energy control program, with effective, easy-to-follow LO/TO procedures is a four-step process.

1. Hazard analysis - review each piece of equipment to determine the type and magnitude of hazardous energy that must be locked out.
2. Identification - determine the steps necessary to isolate hazardous energy and lock out the relevant control points.
3. Documentation - create a written LO/TO procedure that lists all of the proper steps to isolate and lock out energy.
4. Training - authorized employees must be trained on the overall energy control policy and on the specific skills and techniques necessary to safely perform lockout activities.

The Lockout PRO software features easy-to-use templates, plus access to a database of standard graphics, terms, and information. Users can easily customize each procedure and insert machine-specific images into each lockout/tagout procedure. Users can also quickly access current OSHA regulations to ensure that their procedures are code-compliant. Procedures can be printed to any standard laser or inkjet printer or to Brady's GlobalMark®2 Industrial Label Maker or HandiMark® Portable Label Maker, for printing on more durable Brady label materials.

Photos and pictograms also help workers understand the nature and location of specific energy points that must be locked out on a machine and ensures that the correct controls are locked out. The Lockout PRO program allows users to easily incorporate photos into the procedures, with arrows added to indicate the exact locations of energy sources. Different colors and symbols are used for the various types of hazardous energy such as electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic.

Version 3.0 of the Lockout PRO software includes new and updated features for use in a networked environment, new template formats, plus more ways to create customized, company-specific procedures. The Enterprise version of Brady's Lockout PRO includes an online training tool, plus video clips that show how to properly apply and remove common lockout devices.

Effective lockout/tagout procedures save lives, time, and money by reducing workplace accidents, simplifying training, limiting downtime, avoiding OSHA violations and fines, and increasing the efficiency of inspection and maintenance procedures. For more information on Lockout PRO 3.0 software, including a guided online demo, go to www.bradyid.com/lockoutpro.