What does LOTO stand for in safety procedures?

LOTO stands for Lock Out Tag Out, which is a crucial safety procedure used in the maintenance and servicing of machinery. This procedure is designed to ensure that dangerous machines are properly shut off and unable to be started up again before the completion of maintenance or servicing work. The "Lock Out" part involves physically locking the machine's power source to prevent accidental activation, while the "Tag Out" component requires placing a tag on the equipment to inform others that it has been locked out for maintenance.

Utilizing LOTO procedures significantly decreases the risk of injury to workers during maintenance activities. It establishes a clear protocol that must be followed to ensure safety, thereby helping to protect maintenance workers from unexpected energization or startup of the machinery. The concept encapsulated in the term "Lock Out Tag Out" is fundamental to promoting a safe working environment and is widely recognized in industry best practices.