What does 'Both' refer to in safety procedures?

The term 'Both' in the context of safety procedures specifically refers to the implementation of both Lock Out and Tag Out procedures. Lock Out and Tag Out (LOTO) are essential safety practices used during maintenance and servicing of equipment to ensure that machines are properly shut off and not able to be started up again before the completion of maintenance or servicing work. Lock Out involves physically locking the energy isolation devices, while Tag Out involves placing a tag on these devices to indicate that someone is performing maintenance and should not be allowed to operate the equipment.

Together, Lock Out and Tag Out ensure a comprehensive safety approach that protects workers from unexpected energization or startup of machinery, thereby significantly reducing the risk of accidents. This integrated application is crucial in creating a safe working environment when handling potentially hazardous energy sources. The effectiveness of this practice lies in its dual approach — the physical lock ensures the equipment cannot be operated, and the tag communicates to others that the equipment must remain de-energized, emphasizing both the physical and communicative aspects of safety.

While employing multiple safety tools, using different types of energy sources, or combining safety education with practice are also important aspects of an overall safety strategy, they do not specifically capture the dual nature of responsibility that the phrase 'Both'