Follow the LOTO
By isolating hazardous energy sources and clearly marking them, LOTO helps ensure a safe work environment by preventing accidental energization of equipment during an outage. The LOTO process is also essential for compliance with safety regulations.
Enhanced safety
Regulatory compliance
Reduced downtime and cost
Frequently asked questions
LOTO requires hazardous energy sources to be "isolated and rendered inoperative" before work begins on equipment.Isolated power sources are then physically locked (via a lock or any other lock-out device), and a tag is placed on the lock identifying the worker and the reason why the LOTO was placed on it.
If LOTO practices are not observed, employees can be seriously injured or even killed by the machinery/equipment they are working on or around.
That is why GE Vernova has authorized Individuals at site who are trained and qualified to perform LOTO on equipment using equipment specific LOTO procedures.
LOTO is used across industries as a safe method of working on hazardous equipment and is mandated by law in some countries.
GE Vernova has a documented LOTO procedure that explains the implementation of the following 7 mandatory steps:
1. Preparation for shutdown
2. Shutdown of machine, equipment, processes, and circuits
3. Isolation of machine, equipment, processes, and circuits
4. Apply LOTO lock and device
5. Controlling stored energy
6. Verification of absence of energy
7. Return to service
Once work is complete, repeat the process in reverse order to inspect that the equipment is operationally intact, all personnel are in safe location and remove the LOTO locking devices, before returning the equipment to service.
And during the outage, a transparent and direct communication is fundamental between customer-operator-contractor for a successful LOTO process.
Field engineers (FEs) create LOTO plans, and these plans often change when FEs either retire or otherwise leave their respective companies. And while some points will consistently be locked out, variations in plant equipment can create complexity over which LOTO groupings are even necessary.
With us as part of your outage team, you’ll be able to:
Contact us
