Lockout tagout is known as one of the most difficult areas of occupational safety and health to

properly establish. The procedures required can be very complicated, will be unique to every

facility, and must be created utilizing a very complicated OSHA standard, in Standard 1910.147.

But even once you establish adequate procedures, maintaining said procedures can be a

problematic task and, unfortunately, is a task not always accounted for.

Unlike most areas of occupational safety and health which, once policies and procedures are put

in place they can be monitored a few times a year but otherwise don’t need much maintenance,

lockout tagout is constantly in need of review and updating. Every time the facility is updated,

the machinery is changed, or the personnel changes, the lockout tagout procedures need to be

reviewed to ensure they are still accurate. This can be very trying on a safety team, and is why

lockout tagout is one of the most commonly cited hazards during an OSHA inspection.

To help with lockout tagout, many businesses rely on third party lockout tagout auditing firms.

These experts will create and manage the lockout tagout procedures, freeing up that

responsibility from the company. Unfortunately, this means that the safety team needs to notify a

third party whenever there are changes, and it means the company is no longer in control of their

own procedures. If the third party firm drops the ball, the company will not know. This can be

devastating during an inspection.

To rectify this situation, PF Safety has created our Factory Solutions Software. This software is

web based, fully scalable, fully customizable, and managed by a leading lockout tagout auditing

firm. You upload your procedures, review them with a specialist, then have the freedom to make

changes at any time and from anywhere. And if the changes are not compliant, the program lets

you know. It truly blends the third party protections with the security of maintaining it in-house.

If you have any questions about Factory Solutions Software or about lockout tagout in general,

please contact us. If you have anything to add about the importance of always maintaining your

procedures, please leave a comment.