LOTO is a measure to prevent the accidental release of dangerous energy

Lockout tagout (LOTO) is a core safety control measure aimed at preventing accidental release of dangerous energy and avoiding equipment misoperation. Its implementation must strictly follow the requirements of “GB/T 33579-2017 Mechanical Safety – Methods for Hazard Energy Control: Lockout/Tagout” and the “People’s Republic of China Safety Production Law”. It covers the entire process of energy identification, isolation operation, job control, and unlocking, adhering to the principle of “whoever operates, locks, and is responsible”. This helps to block accident risks such as electric shock, mechanical injury, and medium leakage from the source. 1. Scope of Application and Basic Requirements Lockout tagging is applicable to all operation scenarios involving equipment maintenance, repair, cleaning, and troubleshooting, covering six major types of dangerous energy sources: electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal, and chemical. When workers need to enter the dangerous area of the equipment, come into contact with rotating parts, or remove safety protection devices, they must physically lock all isolation devices (power switches, pipeline valves, energy storage mechanisms, etc.) and hang warning signs. It is strictly prohibited to replace the standard operation with verbal instructions or power disconnection without locking. 
Locks and tags must comply with mandatory standards: Safety locks should be made of stainless steel or engineering plastics, with a tensile strength of ≥500N, featuring anti-pickup, corrosion resistance, and resistance to high and low temperatures. Each lock should be equipped with a unique key and no ordinary civilian padlocks that can be easily replicated should be used. In explosion-proof areas, explosion-proof locks that meet ATEX certification should be selected. Tags use a prominent design with a red background and white characters or a yellow background and black characters, with a font height of ≥10mm. The content should include the warning statement “Do Not Operate – Work in Progress”, the name of the operator, contact information, operation content, and the date of locking, and should be hung in a prominent position beside the lock to ensure that all operators can clearly see it.