How do I lockout a gate valve?

Gate valves tend to be operated manually via a handwheel. If the handwheel is less than 350mm diameter you can use a valve wheel lockout device, secured in place with a safety padlock.

If the valve hand wheel is larger than 350mm, you can use a length of chain wrapped around the handwheel rim or spokes then arond the bonnet of the valve or some adjacent pipe or steel work.

Also useful for locking large handwheels is a safety cable lockout.

For more information about locking valves, read our technical article.

"How do I lockout a gate valve?"

Total Lockout (Safety) Ltd

sales@totallockout.com

New lockout tagout catalogues published

#30dayblog Day 3 - Call to Action

Dear Readers,

It may not have gone un-noticed the increase in blogging activity by Total Lockout. This is because we are following @NikkiPilkington 30 Day Blogging challenge. Todays' initiative is to invite you to view, and better still, download our newly published lockout tagout catalogues.

Our main catalogue now runs to 64 pages of all the latest lockout tagout products, cleverly divided into product groups.

Alternatively, you can download a smaller catalogue which just highlights products from various product groups.

These are currently displayed on our home page but will later be moved to our resources section.

If you like what you see, please tweet their location to your followers.

Thanks,

Total Lockout (Safety) Ltd
Twitter: @totallockout

Lockout Tagout Top Tips

1. Always use a proper, safety padlock. One which is designed for the purposes of lockout tagout applications and not general security.
2. Put a multi-lock safety hasp on the isolation device before adding a padlock. This way, if any other person needs to work on the isolated equipment, they can simply add their padlock to the hasp.
3. An ill-fitting circuit breaker lockout is easy to override so use a circuit breaker selection guide to select the best lockout device for your particular make and model of breaker.
4. Before carrying out an isolation procedure, inform everyone affected what is taking place and the work us expected to be complete. This includes the operators of the equipment.
5. If you are unsure about the hazards involved, carry out a risk assessment.
6. Be sure to add a lockout tag at the point of isolation. The tag is a means of conveying information about the work being done and will inform others who is carrying out the work and when they expect to finish.
7. Often lockouts are overlooked simply because the worker thought his task would only take a few moments and the lockout equipment is located some distance away. Overcome this scenario by locating basic lockout equipment (padlocks and hasps) in a lockout station close-by the machinery isolation points.
8. Improve your key management by using keyed alike padlocks for each different worker. This way, they avoid having to locate the right key to open a lock. Be sure that each workers' padlocks use a different key though.
9. Once you have completely isolated the equipment you are working on, be sure to wear the appropriate PPE, suitable for the task being carried out.
10. Ask your manager about providing a monthly tool-box talk on lockout tagout procedures. Vary it each time by focusing on different type of machine or equipment.

For qualified advice, without obligation, contact Total Lockout (Safety) Ltd

www.totallockout.com

sales@totallockout.com