In the industrial environment, safety is not a game of chance; it is the result of meticulous procedures and reliable tools. If you have arrived here asking yourself “What is the LOTO methodology?” or “How does it differ from the LOTOTO procedure?“, you are in the right place.
Today we break down these critical concepts and explain how digitization is revolutionizing the way they are applied to save lives and optimize time.
What is LOTO and LOTOTO?
To understand safety in maintenance operations, we must first define the acronyms that govern international standards.
- LOTO (Lockout / Tagout) refers to the Lockout and Tagout procedure. It consists of turning off machinery, isolating it from its energy source (Lockout), and placing a visual signal (Tagout) warning that it should not be turned on.
- LOTOTO (Lockout / Tagout / Tryout) is the safer evolution of the previous standard. It adds a crucial step: the Tryout. It is not enough to lock and tag; one must verify that, effectively, residual energy has been eliminated and the equipment cannot start.
Why is the LOTOTO Standard Vital?
All work involving especially hazardous activities must be accompanied by pre-planned authorization. The LOTOTO procedure ensures that maintenance teams do not suffer accidents due to unexpected startups.
However, implementing this on paper is a challenge: physical forms get lost, signatures go missing, and there is a need to physically find those responsible to approve the management. This is where technology makes the difference.
Digitizing Safety: The Prodity Solution
Knowing the theory is vital, but executing it without errors is what truly protects your team. At Prodity, we have developed a Permit to Work module that integrates directly with LOTO and LOTOTO procedures, taking safety to the next level.
1. Real-Time Visibility and Control Forget the doubts. With Prodity, you have visualization of all ongoing work and total control and identification in real time. You will know exactly which machine is locked out, who did it, and where work is being done.
2. Goodbye Paper, Hello Efficiency Historically, permit management was done on paper, causing delays and misplaced documents. Digitization eliminates unnecessary physical presence and allows access from any mobile device, even directly in the field and in zones without coverage (offline mode).
Paper is not just uncomfortable; it is blind. As Veolia experts state:
“What is on paper, what is on a desk, does not exist […] and the only way, in a large organization, to have that knowledge of data and thus be able to make decisions is digitization. There is no other way.”
3. Integration and Customization You don’t have to adapt your safety to our software; we adapt to you. We offer customized formats according to your organization’s procedures. Furthermore, our integration with LOTO ensures that the work permit and energy isolation are linked in a single digital flow.
4. Validation and Legal Security The system guarantees that authorization signatures are performed by the corresponding users, including digital signature functionality to make explicit the compliance with risks and applied measures.
Frequently Asked Questions about LOTO, LOTOTO, and Work Permits (FAQ)
We know that the digital transition generates questions. Here we answer the most common inquiries from managers regarding these procedures with Prodity.
What is the main difference between the LOTO and LOTOTO standards? Although sometimes used interchangeably, the difference lies in verification. LOTO (Lockout/Tagout) focuses on blocking and tagging energy sources. LOTOTO (Lockout/Tagout/Tryout) adds a vital step: the check or “Tryout” that no residual energy exists. Prodity contemplates this complete integration with LOTO and LOTOTO procedures to maximize safety.
What advantages does digitizing the procedure offer over paper? Digitization simplifies the process and drastically increases its safety and reliability. By eliminating paper, you avoid loss, duplication, and physical deterioration of documents. Additionally, you guarantee visibility of ongoing work and eliminate the need for unnecessary physical travel to obtain a signature.
Can I manage a work permit in zones without coverage? Yes. We understand that many maintenance operations occur in basements or remote areas. The Prodity module allows working directly in the field using mobile devices, even in offline mode in areas without data coverage. Information automatically syncs when you recover connection.
How are safety authorizations validated on the platform? Legal and operational safety is a priority. Our tool guarantees that authorization signatures are made solely by the corresponding users. We include integrated digital signature functionality to explicitly show approvals and participants’ conformity with applied risks and measures.
Can the forms be adapted to my company’s protocols? Absolutely. We do not impose a rigid format; we offer customized formats that adapt to your client’s or organization’s procedures. This allows including different lists of risks applicable to each specific job and defining configurable workflow lifecycles.
