Safety lockout awareness

Barry Atkins, managing director of PASS, cautions: "Every year there are many easily avoidable accidents that take place within working environments. These can be life threatening and can even be fatal, but could easily be prevented by the use of a lockout.

"A lockout device stops something from being switched on when it is absolutely essential that it remains switched off. Under the lockout/tagout (LOTO) regulations enforced by regulatory bodies, it is the responsibility of an employer to ensure that correct LOTO procedures are observed."