Recently, the results of a nationwide safety surprise inspection targeting the manufacturing, energy and chemical industries have shown that despite the clear requirements of regulations, there are still serious loopholes in the implementation of the “locking and hanging” procedure, which has become the main source of preventable work-related accidents. This result once again brings the safety red line that sustains the lives of countless workers into the public eye.
The so-called “locking and hanging a warning sign” refers to a set of safety operation procedures where, when maintaining, servicing or cleaning mechanical equipment, the energy sources (including electricity, hydraulic, pneumatic, gravity, etc.) are strictly cut off in accordance with the procedures, and the equipment is personally locked and a warning sign is hung to prevent accidental start-up. It is recognized globally in the field of industrial safety as the “last line of defense” for protecting the lives of operators.
The Bloody Lesson: The Forgotten “Lock”
Last month, a serious accident occurred at a certain parts processing factory. A maintenance worker, while troubleshooting the conveyor belt, did not carry out a thorough LOTO procedure but merely pressed the stop button. Another employee restarted the equipment without knowing it, causing the maintenance worker’s arm to suffer serious injuries.
“This was a tragedy that could have been avoided,” the on-site safety supervisor said with deep sorrow in an interview. “Our regulations were hung on the wall, but someone crossed this red line for the sake of convenience.” At that moment, what was forgotten was not a lock, but the security guarantee of a life.
Post time: Nov-25-2025
