5. Training & Assessment
Under Australian WHS laws, employers must provide information, instruction, and training about hazards and safe work procedures. Because Lockout Tagout addresses serious hazards, thorough training is essential. While no nationally accredited “LOTO licence” exists, businesses must still ensure workers are competent to perform isolations.
Key points on training:
- Who needs training? Anyone who could be exposed to hazardous energy or who may need to lock out equipment: maintenance staff, machine operators (if they clear jams or do minor servicing), electricians, plumbers, contractors, etc.
- What to cover? The nature of hazardous energies, the company’s Lockout Tagout procedures, correct use of locks/tags, group lockout methods, emergency protocols, and relevant regulations/standards.
- Hands-on practice: Practical demonstrations and supervised practice are crucial. Workers should physically apply padlocks, tags, and try “test-starting” machinery to confirm zero energy.
- Assessment: Provide a knowledge check (written or verbal) plus a practical demonstration. Workers must show they can identify isolation points and correctly lock/tag them. Keep records of who passed competency checks.
- Refresher training: Regulations encourage ongoing refresher sessions, especially if there’s a new piece of equipment, an incident, or a long gap since the last training.
For example, SafeWork NSW and WorkSafe QLD both emphasise that only competent persons should perform isolations. According to a Queensland mining guidance, “Workers must be trained and assessed as competent to ensure they understand the operation of the plant to be isolated.” This principle extends to all industries.
Options for Delivering Training
- Internal training: Many companies develop their own Lockout Tagout training module, leveraging in-house safety or engineering staff to conduct workshops.
- External providers: Some safety consultancies and RTOs offer courses on Lockout Tagout or broader plant risk management. Though not accredited solely as “LOTO courses,” they cover core isolation skills.
- On-the-job mentorship: Experienced staff guide newcomers, supervising them on actual lockout scenarios until they demonstrate competence.
Regardless of the method, ensure your program is documented. Training logs, sign-off sheets, or even short assessments ensure traceability if a regulator inquires about worker competence.
Disciplinary Policies & Culture
Many companies designate Lockout Tagout violations as serious misconduct. If someone removes a colleague’s lock without proper authority, that’s grounds for immediate investigation or discipline. Such a stance underscores that LOTO is a life-critical system.
Building a culture of strict compliance means training employees to:
- Never operate equipment with a lock/tag attached.
- Refuse to begin a task unless every relevant energy source is locked.
- Respect the rule: “You install it, you remove it.” (No one else takes off your personal lock.)
A strong Lockout Tagout culture can save lives, prevents injuries, and helps avoid legal consequences.
Continue to Page 5 to learn about Lockout Tagout Equipment and explore Case Studies demonstrating why these measures are so crucial.