Our Sites

Trapped key interlocks prevent lockout/tagout circumvention

KIRK® trapped key interlocks enhance lockout/tagout to help ensure energy-isolation procedures cannot be circumvented. A written lockout/tagout procedure is used to document the steps to isolate the hazardous energy source. The trapped key interlocks can aid in isolating the energy source, and the lock and tag can be applied to the interlock.

The trapped key interlock can prevent personnel from mistakenly removing the lock and tag and re-energizing the equipment. The person leading the lockout/tagout removes the key from the trapped key interlock and keeps it. The equipment cannot be re-energized until the uniquely coded key has been re-entered into the sequence after all workers are clear from the completed task and out of harm’s way.

A time-delay unit can be added into the process to allow the hazardous energy to dissipate before allowing access.