Electrical Node-Based LOTO Planning for Shared EID Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lock-out-tag-out (LOTO) procedures are time-consuming and prone to human error, requiring manual creation and updating for each piece of equipment, and are inefficient when multiple equipment isolation is needed, posing safety risks due to potential accidental energization.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a back-end system and a personal electronic device to dynamically determine LOTO procedures based on electrical node data sets, optimizing the number of locks required and reducing the time needed for generating and maintaining these procedures, by guiding users through the isolation process and allowing for the joining of existing LOTOs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If static pre-defined LOTO procedures are manually created for each piece of equipment, then safety isolation is ensured, but the process is time-consuming and subject to human error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical processes (visual tracing of connections in design files, manual creation of LOTO procedures) with an automated computer-based system that dynamically generates LOTO procedures by querying an electrical node data set, thereby eliminating human error and significantly reducing time requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables automatic generation and maintenance of LOTO procedures through self-service automation, where the computer system independently queries the electrical node data set and generates appropriate LOTO procedures without requiring manual intervention from safety professionals
2Reliability
If multiple locks are placed on shared EIDs to complete each LOTO process, then equipment isolation is achieved, but unnecessary locks increase complexity and time requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple LOTO processes that share common energy isolation devices (EIDs) by dynamically identifying and consolidating shared EIDs, allowing a single lock to satisfy multiple isolation requirements simultaneously, thereby reducing the total number of locks needed while maintaining equivalent safety isolation
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables a single lock to serve multiple functions by identifying EIDs that are shared across multiple LOTO procedures, allowing one lockout action to simultaneously isolate equipment for multiple different maintenance tasks or equipment items
3Measurement precision
If manual updating of electrical project design files is performed to reflect current status, then accuracy is maintained, but the process is time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual updating of electrical project design files with automated computer-based querying of the electrical node data set, where the system dynamically retrieves current equipment and EID connection information, ensuring accuracy is maintained while eliminating the time-consuming manual update process
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining an up-to-date electrical node data set that automatically reflects current equipment status and connections, so that when LOTO procedures are generated, the information is already current and accurate without requiring subsequent manual updates
Data Source
AI summary
A hazardous energy control system is presented. The system includes a back-end system and a personal electronic device communicatively connected to the back-end system. The personal electronic device provides a user interface for a user to select a set of equipment from the pieces equipment at the worksite for electrical isolation from hazardous energy sources via lockout/tagout (LOTO). The back-end system is configured to dynamically the back-end system is configured to dynamically determine a LOTO procedure for electrical isolation of the set of equipment from the hazardous energy sources based on the electrical node data set indicating pieces of equipment, energy isolation devices (EIDs), and electrical connections between the pieces of equipment and EIDs on a worksite.