Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) is an important safety procedure that temporarily isolates machinery from its energy sources. In the following case study, discover how a dairy company partnered with Brady Corporation to develop a LOTO procedure that would improve safety during maintenance.
Groupe Lactalis, a global dairy leader, prioritises safety at all its plants. In one of them, Royal Lactalis Leerdammer B.V. site, where Leerdammer cheese is produced, Lockout/Tagout procedures were implemented to improve safety during maintenance activities.
Facing risks during machine interventions, the company sought to implement a proven method to fully isolate machines from energy sources during maintenance. This initiative aimed to eliminate dangers from moving parts, unexpected energisation, and residual energy. Lactalis partnered with Brady Corporation to develop a robust LOTO program.
Brady provided expert consultancy, training Lactalis safety teams to create best-in-class, machine-specific procedures. A Brady Engineer even developed an on-site example procedure, which Lactalis then scaled across numerous machines, including those for milk preparation, conveyor belts and electrical cabinets, with ongoing Brady support.
Every procedure, managed in Brady’s LINK360 software, featured step-by-step instructions and illustrative photos for precise energy isolation. Brady also supplied all necessary LOTO tools needed to block access to the energy control points used in the production sites. Maintenance specialists can lock these tools in place with their personal Brady SafeKey padlocks in various colors for visual distinction of energy types (electricity, compressed air, etc.) and individual protection. For small electrical cabinets, compact nylon padlocks were chosen for their lightweight nature.
To enhance the solution, Brady provided BBP12 Label Printers for on-site padlock personalisation. With the printers, names, phone numbers and other data on self-adhesive labels that perfectly fit their SafeKey padlocks can be easily printed on demand.
To complete the solution, Brady created large shadow boards to distribute all LOTO tools in the workplace. The boards include a tool shadow for each LOTO device in use and provide an easy tool return point, as well as a clear overview of available tools and lockouts in progress. Next to tools, the boards also offer space to attach work specific Lockout/Tagout/Tryout procedures.
The results are significant: maintenance specialists at Royal Lactalis Leerdammer can now work safely and efficiently, with the ability to fully isolate any machine. This comprehensive A-to-Z solution, delivered by Brady, has ensured safe machine interventions, allowing production to resume smoothly after maintenance.
Discover how a tailored Lockout/Tagout solution can elevate safety standards on Brady’s website.
