New European Standard Mandates Lockout-Tagout Procedures for Multi-Worker Maintenance
Published on 07/16/2026 at 18:56 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
When a team of engineers descends on a factory floor to service a machine, they face a silent hazard: the stored energy that could suddenly release. A new European standard, DIN EN 17975, now provides the technical blueprint for preventing such accidents through systematic energy isolation and locking.
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The Safety Mechanism Behind Group Lockout
The standard specifies how industrial facilities must neutralise electrical voltage, compressed air, hydraulics, gases, steam, fluids and residual mechanical energy before work begins. Companies are adopting targeted locking devices: circuit-breaker locks, plug locks and cable locks for electrical components, plus valve locks for ball valves, handwheels and sluice gates on pipelines.
For larger maintenance teams, group lockout boxes become the central safety hub. The procedure is straightforward: keys for the main isolation locks are placed inside a lockable box. Each team member then secures the box with a personal safety lock. Only when every worker has completed their task and removed their lock can the box be opened, releasing the keys and restoring power.
Locking Systems for Different Workflows
The standard accommodates various locking configurations. Key Different systems assign a unique key to each lock. Key Alike systems use identical keys for multiple locks. Hierarchical setups with master keys or grand-master keys give supervisors emergency access without compromising individual protection.
Lockout stations and shadow boards are increasingly common on factory floors. These fixed storage solutions keep devices organised and accessible. The company MAKRO IDENT, a distributor of Brady-brand lockout equipment since 2006, supplies everything from portable kits to wall-mounted units with access-control stations. Custom adaptations help manufacturers integrate lockout-tagout (LOTO) processes seamlessly into existing workflows.
From Machine Building to Pharmaceuticals
The standard’s reach extends across industries: mechanical engineering, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and food processing all rely on locked energy isolation during maintenance. As plants grow more automated, the need for clear, standardised procedures only intensifies. DIN EN 17975 gives operators a unified framework to protect workers from the kind of sudden energy release that can turn routine maintenance into a catastrophe.
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