Proper Energy Isolation

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Ensuring proper isolation of energy sources, when needed, is an important part of any job, large or small. Before commencing any maintenance, repair or other work on any equipment, all associated energy sources must be placed in a safe position and locked out to stay safe. This can be high-pressure gas or fluid pipes/valves, electrical circuit fuses, circuit breakers or plugs, chemical supply lines, fuel lines, vehicles, moving machine parts or any others that may be harmful to persons or the environment. 

Many workers are being seriously hurt every year across Australia. And many of these injuries occur within incidents that could have been avoided if energy supply sources had been properly isolated and locked out. This includes electrocution, scolding and burning, as well as injuries via miscellaneous moving machinery. Companies with any equipment must have, as part of their occupational health and safety programs, an isolation/lockout procedure in place for personnel to follow and provide access to lockout equipment where needed. 

Australian owned and operated company Cirlock specialises in lockout/tagout equipment and safety signage. The company has a full range of hardware needed for proper energy isolation and can provide friendly advice and recommendations on lockout issues and use of lockout procedures.  

Cirlock has been manufacturing lockout/tagout equipment in Australia for 30 years and are widely regarded as the original Australian lockout manufacturer. Most of their products are designed in-house and are largely manufactured locally.  

In 1992 in Mount Isa Erik Larsen, Cirlock founder, designed his first lockout device and developed a product ‘the Cirlock System’ that was later approved by a mining inspector and sold to hundreds of mines across Australia.  Today Cirlock’s range of products include various equipment to lockout circuit breakers, fuses, switches, gate valves, ball valves, butterfly valves, electrical plugs, pneumatic and hydraulic hose couplings, pushbuttons, and similar types of industrial devices.

View a selection of Cirlock’s key products below: -

Group lock boxes are a great solution for isolating energy points when a large team is working. Using a group lock box allows you to use fewer locks during maintenance, as well as limiting the weight on each isolation point by eliminating the need for lockout hasps and multiple padlocks.

The keys for the isolation locks are placed inside the group lock box and all workers place their personal locks on the outside preventing access until all locks are removed again.

Available from Cirlock in a range of sizes and designs, from a few padlock holes to the largest standard size with 84 padlock holes. The larger sizes include storage hooks for padlocks when not in use as well as clear polycarbonate lid with A4 size permit/instruction holder.

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Cirlock has a range of custom-printed tags that are printed on durable poly material with a great outdoor lifespan or available as economic cardboard tags. 

Custom tags give clear communication, they offer a personal touch to your procedures as they are specific to your requirements, they fulfil compliance and with a professional look, it shows that your workplace takes safety seriously and is committed to maintaining high standards 

Cirlock supplies the tags in any quantity at great prices, with a fast turnaround of 5 days or less on smaller runs.  Quantities of 200 custom tags or less can easily be accommodated, there is no minimum order, although a minimum charge may be applied. 

The tags can be fully customised and are available with or without eyelet/string.  The custom printed tags are manufactured in Australia, by Cirlock.

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Cirlock’s own brand of tough Safety Lockout Padlocks are made with strong poly material housing with stainless steel shackle and brass keyway. These locks are available in eight different colours, and may be master-keyed, keyed alike or keyed different in any combination. Locks can be personalised with logo or names, either engraved or on labels. Photo ID can also be supplied. Padlocks are also available with a non-conductive shackle for better electrical insulation and lighter weight.

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