Lockout-Target is the process of securing the workplace and employees from the potential risk of release of hazardous energies from various detrimental machines installed in the company. The procedure is kind of hard to grasp, especially for those who are novice to the technique. Reason being the process appears to be very complex of which the workers may find some parts irrelevant. Misunderstanding generated among the workforce further develops in misconceptions and ultimately into myths. The most popular myths circulating in the air about the lockout-tagout system are: –
- OSHA regulations are not applicable to all the companies
A lot of company managers think that their company does not come under the regulations set by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) because it is a small company and it don’t need to be regulated or it is specially exempt from the coverage of OSHA. All such theories are imprecise considering the standards are applicable for all kinds of industries containing machinery that are dangerous and can cause catastrophe. The standards may be of different names in different regions but all of them state similar guidelines that has to be followed by aforementioned industrial companies.
- OSHA regulations are not applicable for a particular device
Besides the doubts regarding the applicability of the standards in a particular company, there are also very nonsensical assumptions pertaining in the market stating that the regulations are not applicable for some specific devices. For an instance, several company managers think that if a machine has ‘cord and plug’ power supply, it is not harmful. Or if a machine is running since a significant time period, i.e. it is old as compared to other incorporated devices, it is not detrimental. Such assumptions make no sense considering cases have been reported where machines with ‘cord and plug’ method of power supply released harmful energies even when the power was disconnected. And obsoleteness doesn’t guarantees safety. Till the time potentially cataclysmic equipment is present in the workplace, the safety standards are applicable.
- There is no need to apply OSHA regulations because of clean history of the company
This very particular myth completely topples the establishment of OSHA standards. That is because there are companies in abundance where never have any disastrous accident ever happened. This doesn’t mean one should not take precaution. Especially under the case where hundreds and thousands of people work together and risking their lives cannot be permitted.
LOTO safety helps reduce such risks to a great extent and make the workers feel secure and easy. OSHA demands timely audits of all the installed equipments in all those companies which come under the prescribed guidelines. So it’s important to ignore such myths and implement the technique in your company to the earliest as possible.