Who is responsible for Lockout Tagout program?

Employees across the world service machines and equipment every day, which can be dangerous if the correct LOTO procedures are not followed. Many serious injuries, even fatalities, have occurred when workers thought the machine they are working on is SAFE.

There have been numerous incidences where machines start up unexpectedly, because of stored energy that was not properly released or by another employee who didn’t realize it wasn’t safe to turn on. Who will take responsibility for such incidences? Or Who will stand liable if anyone of the workers loses his life while servicing a giant machine?

The Company? Its Top management? The managers? Supervisors? Or the employees themselves….???

Such incidences will continue to occur if Lockout Tagout is not taken seriously. Remember, each and every individual who is directly or indirectly involved in this whole process, will be held responsible for any mishap that occurs with him or in the surrounding.

Effective implementation of a sustainable Lockout Tagout system can be a daunting task. Navigating the regulations, having suitable devices on hand and appropriately training both authorized and affected employees is important.

For an effective Lockout Tagout program in place, it becomes a combined responsibility of both employer and employee. In fact, all the individuals within the workplace are equally responsible.

The Top Management & Managers

The Top-Management personnel, who are the decision makers of the company, are responsible and accountable for safety of the employees working on the dangerous machines, for creating the Lockout Tagout program and getting all specific energy control procedures drafted and updated. They are the most answerable lot in hierarchy, because the initial decisions are taken and passed on to the rest of the authorities only after their approval. Therefore, they need to take stringent actions, against even the slightest of incidents that happen or occur. All the near- miss should be reported and appropriate actions must be taken to address them.

Their care involves identifying the employees; machines; equipment and processes that need to be included. Once the Lockout Tagout program has been created, the managers have the task of facilitating appropriate training to authorized employees-both classroom and practical; providing the necessary equipment required for the lockout tagout procedures and carrying out periodic inspection.

The Supervisors:

The next in the order of responsibility, comes the supervisors. The supervisors must ensure that the established Lockout Tagout program is properly implemented. This involves delegating of responsibility, so only the authorized employee who is well trained, can perform the servicing or maintenance on machines that require lockout tagout procedure.

The Employees:

Lastly, it is the duty of the employees, that they must follow the procedures that have been developed and implemented by the top management, managers and supervisors, reporting any problems associated with the equipment, procedures or locking out. They must participate enthusiastically as it is for their own safety.

Workers think that sparing a minute on such simple devices will slow them down or get in the way of their normal operations. But they hardly realise that this single minute of safety precaution can save them from big accidents.

Compliance with lockout-tagout procedures prevents 50,000 injuries and 120 fatalities every year, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and therefore correct implementation of Lockout Tagout procedures, with the aim to build a system that supports the culture of safety and wellbeing of employees is obligatory!

One act of carelessness can cost you your life, and effect the lives of your loved ones! The responsibility and liability of the safety of the employees and property is a combined duty of both the employer and employee. Therefore, understand the importance of Lockout Tagout, and make sure you follow it diligently!