Lock Out Tag Out is a device used by operations and maintenance personnel to control and isolate the

hazardous energy in a system and a piece of machinery during preventive and corrective maintenance
work.Lockout means cutting all sources of energyand installing apersonal lock and tagat the source, to prevent
the starting of this piece of machinery while it is being cleaned, maintained,adjustedor repaired. hazardous
energy are the following:
Electrical energy
-power transmission lines, transformers,
-circuit breakers,surge arresters, electrical motors, generators
Hydraulic energy
-fluid under pressure (cylinders and lift trucks), electro hydraulic cylinders,hydraulic power unit,
Pneumatic energy
-air under pressure (pipes, tanks and vessels)
Kinetic energy
-Kinetic = caused by motion
-Examples: moving conveyor, flywheel, moving saw blade
Potential energy
-Potential = stored energy
-Examples: spring, battery or elevated weight
Steam
-caused by boiling water or steam from boilers or geothermal wells
Potential energy
-Potential = stored energy
-Examples: spring, battery or elevated weight
Lock-a device that is used to secure and release the isolation in a particular equipment.This locks are attached to
the breakers,valves,switches,control devices to avoid accidental operation of equipment.There are three
essential personnel involved in lock out tag out,they are the holder or the maintenance personnel,the issuer of
loto or the operations personnel and the plant manager.
Tags-tags are attached to the locks to know the basic data about the isolation.Printed on the tag is the primary
message "warning/Danger, do not operate".Essential datas include the equipment being isolated,craft,work to be
done,date and time of isolation,personnel involved in the isolation, lock number,etc.
Lock Box-a box used to safe keep the key from the lock used in isolation.The holder,issuer and sometimes the
manager attach lock to the lockbox so that all parties have control to the isolation.

In case of a geothermal power plant most of this energies are involved in the process.plant operations are
personnel used to own the equipments in the plant.The maintenance people needs to have permission before
they can work for repairs and maintenance.
Example work:
1.Repair of Cooling tower fan 1A due to frequent tripping.
In this case, first we need to identify all source of energy.Hazardous energy involved are steam from cooling
tower distribution pipes,electrical energy supply to motor.Second we must locate the isolation points to
restrict,stop or isolate the source of energy.Isolation point for steam is in the distribution valve isolation valve

the other one is in the circuit breaker to stop the source of electricity for the fan motor.
3rd we need to close the isolaution valve and open the circuit breaker.after isolating the equipment,we must to
put a chain in the valve and attach a lock and tag.For the circuit breaker we need to attach a lock with tag.The
key from the isolation points must be keep inside the lockbox.issuer and holder will put their own lock so that
both of them have control to the isolation.If all the conditions are done, the maintenance can start the
maintenance work.