Page 1297 - Xmo Strata - Bulletin Archive

Health, Safety & Environmental Bulletin No 480

10 September 2015

LOTO Training

Most Xmo Strata will have done recent refresher courses in Lock Out Tag Out procedures and new
LOTO kits are being issued to all Xmo teams throughout September.

Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO) is the term used to describe the safe isolation of equipment from energy
sources. Most commonly this means electrical isolation by turning off the MCB and placing a lock and
a label to prevent the MCB from being turned back on, and then testing to ensure the equipment is now
dead.

The importance of LOTO is not just to prevent electric shock, the JSA may also instruct you to LOTO
in order to prevent mechanical hazards (e.g. if opening the pump) or to prevent a pump from being
operated (e.g. if working in the hazardous zone). You must not ignore an instruction to LOTO just
because you are not going to be carrying out any electrical work.

If you have been told equipment has been isolated by others, check it before starting, check the MCB is
locked off and also check using a probe tester to ensure the correct circuit is off. Also, remember to
check the probe tester is working! Some of the sites we work on have poor circuit labelling or have
disorganised wiring, the circuit labelled may not be correct or may not cover all the equipment you
think it should.

Training is available on our XmoHub.com site for LOTO, if you have not taken the course visit the site,
sign up and request an account and invitation to the course.

We are all a product of learning. Every skill we have; everything we know; everything we believe and everything we do has
been learned throughout the course of our lives. Some of us learn best by studying graphs and charts, some through visual
presentations, and some by reading detailed text books. It is important that we receive information in a format that works for
us as individuals! That’s why at Xmo Strata we use a variety of communication platforms such as bulletins, newsletters,
videos etc. However, if you feel there is a better way for us to share health and safety information, please let us know.
Ultimately, your safety is in your hands – but we will do all we can to keep you well informed!