Plug and Switch Lockouts

Employees can find themselves at risk of a serious injury or death if the machine they operate starts up unexpectedly or releases stored but hazardous energy. It is the sole responsibility of employers to address safety issues that concern the safety of the employees, especially when handling with dangerous equipment.

Procedures and standards must be in place to disable machinery and prevent the release of perilous energy while maintenance and servicing a machine. These measures may include the use of a multi-step startup procedure, time delays, or audible warnings. In such relatively uncommon situations, lockout/tagout requirements do not apply. However, such alternative precautions must be carefully evaluated for their effectiveness in light of the configuration of the machinery, the reliability of the alternative measures, employee training, and other factors.

Idesco Safety provides a large selection of lockout devices that ensure a safe working environment for employees. We feature a wide variety of lockouts for plugs and power cords of all shapes and sizes. Our lockouts also and comply with the regulations contained within OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147. Lockout devices guard against accidental starts. Plug and switch lockouts are essential for any Lockout program to add safety and protect lives.

Our lockout devices include a lock, and a plug.  These lockout devices are designed to fit various switches, valves and effectors. A common feature of these devices is their bright color, usually red to increase visibility and allow workers to readily see if a device is isolated. Furthermore, the devices are usually of such a design and construction to prevent it being removed with any moderate force. Lockouts should be used when new machinery is being installed, when guards or other safety devices must be removed and when an employee must position himself in a way that can lead to limbs getting in machinery.

Small and easily transported in an electrician's pouch, Idesco Safety’s plug and switch lockout requires a hole in the blade of the plug and is attached with a lock containing a 2-inch shackle. Plug and switch lockouts are commonly used to lock out electrical panels and machines while performing maintenance to safeguard workers from the release of unexpected dangerous electrical or mechanical energy.

To install the lockout device, the user simply places the lockout device through the hole in the blade of the plug, inserts the padlock through both holes in the lockout, and locks the padlock. Our plug and switch lockouts are intended to facilitate compliance by providing a single, yet effective approach to prevent energizing equipment inadvertently.