Don’t Be Shocked – Use Lockout-Tag out

Working with electricity has become nothing short of a familiar daily occurrence over the past few years. Unfortunately, despite the fact that it is a force to reckon with in as far as fatalities are concerned, we often overlook the kind of hazards it poses. Statistics taken by the U.S Bureau of Labour reveal that 44% of electrical fatalities often come about as a result of electrical components and machines, wiring and faults that have to do with the transformer.

In the same breath, the bureau also goes ahead to state that about 366 employees have suffered electrical-related fatalities from maintenance and repairs as well as installation whereas the majority got injured as a result of electrical accidents. These worrying statistics are not only an eye opener for employers but also a wake-up call that requires them to take action in order to protect their employees at all costs. In this article, we are going to explore all there is to know about electrical mistakes and why the lockout tag out happens to be a valuable addition to preventing electric shocks.

Electrical mistakes that often happen in the workplace

Although some electrical mistakes happen purely by chance, some of them can be easily circumvented with a little bit of effort here and there and attention by those in charge. Below is a list of some of the hazards that can be prevented and avoided well in advance.

• Making connections outside an electrical box.
• Leaving plastic sheathed cables hanging and unsecured in areas considered vulnerable.
• Proceeding with maintenance and servicing work before ascertaining that the equipment is fully de-energized.
• Failure to get into the right personal protective equipment before starting any work.
• Stuffing too many wires into one electrical box.

What is an electrical shock and what injuries can one wound up with upon getting shocked?

Electrical shock can be described as the passing of electric current through one’s body. As a result of this current one may often find themselves being either caused to lose their overall body balance and fall down, succumb to the injuries, have both external and internal burns among many other things.

What is the lockout tag out and how can it be of help?

There are many things that can help describe the lockout tag out. Nonetheless, the simple explanation is that it is a form of restraint of energy sources that are considered to be hazardous. Take for instance chemicals, hydraulics, and pneumatics among others. These energy sources are those that are often linked to the supply of power to systems, machinery, and equipment. With the lockout tag out one is able to keep the machines from turning on unexpectedly while they are carrying out their maintenance and servicing routines.

You are most likely to find the lockout tag out being used by licensed electricians whenever they are doing maintenance and repairs to ensure that electric power has been disconnected before they can get to work. It has been proven to be one of the most effective means to minimize the occurrence of electrical shock. For one to use the lockout tag out, they need to place a tag or lock on a power source when they are performing repairs in order to prevent accidental energization.

With the number of electric-related fatalities rising every passing second, it has become quite clear that there is need to ensure that employees are well trained on the procedures that need to be taken in a lockout tag out. At least that way, there is a chance to reduce causalities in the workplace considerably.