Lockout/Tagout to Reduce Ag Injuries and Fatalities

Utilizing an effective Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) system can prevent incidents, injuries, and potential fatalities associated with grain flow hazards. The most common example of LOTO in production agriculture is using it when a person enters a grain bin. LOTO should be used whenever a person enters a grain bin to perform any service or maintenance (e.g., unclogging an auger). It is vital that the power is turned off to the equipment, and a lockout/tag out process is used to prevent someone from engaging power and causing a potentially life-threatening incident.

LOTO Components

LOTO kits can be purchased from your local grain bin company or from a reputable online agricultural supply site. Figure 1 shows a purchased LOTO kit. Typically, the kits include multiple locks with lock-specific keys, locking devices, and tags. The LOTO kit or wall-mounted station should be in an area accessible to all workers, and annual training on this process should be provided to the workers. New workers should be trained on the LOTO procedure before they begin work on the farm. Training should enable workers to understand the importance of energy control and have the skills to follow the LOTO process.

The LOTO Process

The LOTO process, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard 1910.147, involves a total of eight steps. The first step is to review and understand the procedures required for safely shutting down the equipment. Next, notify others about the scheduled shutdown. Once employees are notified, the equipment can be shut down by following the proper procedures outlined in Step 1. After the equipment is shut down, it is essential to ensure that all primary and secondary energy sources are secured and that the equipment cannot be unintentionally energized. To verify that the lockout procedure is effective, ensure that everyone is clear, and attempt to start the equipment. If the equipment remains de-energized, the next step is to install a locking device on the energy control component that is compatible with that specific application (e.g., electric breakers) and a documentation tag that states when (e.g., date, time, etc.) and why (e.g., repair, maintenance, etc.) the system was locked out and the names of those people performing the maintenance. This locking device and documentation tag should be secured by a padlock by each person performing work, paired with a key specific to their lock that should be kept by them (See Figure 2).