Field iD enhances lockout/tagout (LOTO) module to improve safety, compliance

by Brianna Crandall — October 31, 2014—To increase safety and security, Master Lock Company’s Field iD has released updates to its Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) module that focus on approving authored procedures, compliance and real-time visibility. The LOTO module is aimed at helping safety and compliance managers ensure equipment, machinery and energy sources are properly locked out prior to any required servicing or maintenance.

Field iD’s LOTO module continues to simplify meeting compliance standards, which in turn helps to ensure the safety of employees on worksites. Safety and compliance managers can access and update Field iD’s LOTO module at any time, from any location using the Web, smartphones or tablets.

Field iD says the technology updates are critically important, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has cited that up to 80 percent of injuries related to servicing and maintenance of equipment and assets could be tied to not following simple LOTO procedures. Additionally, LOTO is consistently listed in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) list of most frequently cited violations, with the Administration citing 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries each year that could be prevented by following LOTO procedures.

Key Field iD LOTO updates:

  • Authoring procedures with audit scheduling: To meet OSHA’s required annual procedure audits, Field iD users can now set up a recurring schedule for yearly LOTO procedure audits. This new automated scheduling helps ensure safety and compliance managers do not miss required audits.
  • Compliance: Users can ensure adequate time to plan procedure audits in advance of planned equipment shutdowns with the new ability to see all upcoming procedure audits up to 90 days away.
  • Real-time visibility: Users now have visibility into equipment that does not have a published LOTO procedure in Field iD indicating a potential hazard. This real-time visibility helps ensure that all equipment has up-to-date and published procedures available for when a lockout is needed. Additionally, having this complete view of all locked-out equipment allows users to stay on top of all on-going maintenance and work.

Field iD provides compliance management software for the Web and mobile devices operating on Google Android, Apple iOS and Windows Mobile. The company says its easy-to-use, cloud-based inspection software has revolutionized the way organizations manage safety compliance and create safer workplaces. Field iD combines Web-based and mobile technologies with the power of electronic identification (RFID and barcodes) to improve the efficiency, reliability and reporting of workplace safety management. Manufacturers, distributors, third-party inspectors and end users worldwide use Field iD to inspect facilities and equipment, conduct job site audits, manage corrective and preventive actions, improve training/certifications management, and track assets such as cranes, slings and harnesses. Field iD is part of Master Lock Canada, a wholly owned subsidiary of Master Lock Company.