Lockout/tagout kits in Kenya: what to look for before buying

Buying a lockout/tagout kit is only one step in controlling hazardous energy. The kit should match the site's isolation procedure and the equipment being serviced.

Define the programme first

Ask the authorised maintenance and safety team which energy sources need isolation — electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, or stored energy. The procedure and authorised personnel determine what the kit must contain, not the other way around.

Check the kit contents

A useful kit includes padlocks, tags, hasps, circuit-breaker lockouts, valve lockouts, and lockout stations or bags. Ask the supplier for an itemised contents list and compare it against the authorised team's requirement before approving the purchase.

Match devices to the equipment

Record the asset identifiers, manufacturer references, and isolation points for the machines on site. Lockout devices should fit the actual switches, valves, and plugs used at the facility. A padlock that does not fit the isolation point does not control the energy.

Plan training and records

Devices alone do not establish a safe system of work. Authorised and affected employees need training, and the site should keep records of who applied which lock, when, and for which machine. Agree who maintains the kit inventory after delivery.

Know the scope of this guide

This article is a procurement overview, not an isolation procedure or permission to service machinery. Follow the site's authorised procedures, training, and applicable local requirements.

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