Prop Locks & Lockout/Tagout

Prop Locks and Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)

Prop locks and lockout/tagout (LOTO) equipment is the safety hardware that physically prevents equipment, valves, switches, and machinery from being energised or operated during maintenance work. A proper LOTO program — physical lockout devices, personal padlocks, clear tags, and trained workers — is the most reliable way to prevent unexpected energy release during maintenance, and most serious electrical and mechanical workplace injuries trace back to inadequate isolation. AIMS Industrial supplies the LOTO range Australian workplaces need to comply with their isolation procedures.

What's in the LOTO range

• Safety padlocks — keyed-different, keyed-alike, and master-keyed in colour-coded options for personal and group lockout
• Lockout hasps — multi-padlock hasps for situations where multiple workers need to lock the same energy source
• Circuit breaker lockouts — devices that physically prevent breakers from being switched on
• Valve lockouts — for ball valves, gate valves, butterfly valves, and other valve types
• Plug lockouts — for preventing electrical plugs from being inserted into outlets
• Switch covers and lockouts — for light switches, machine controls, and similar electrical fittings
• Cable lockout devices — for situations where multiple isolation points need to be locked together
• Tags and identification — danger, caution, and information tags compliant with Australian standards
• Lockout stations and kits — wall-mounted or portable kits for site-wide programs

Personal versus group lockout

• Personal lockout — each worker uses their own padlock with a unique key; only that worker can remove their lock
• Group lockout — multiple workers each apply their own padlock to a hasp, ensuring no single worker can release the isolation while others are still working
• Master keyed (used carefully) — for supervisors who need to remove forgotten locks, but only under documented procedures

Brands stocked at AIMS

Otter is the long-established Australian-distributed LOTO brand with a comprehensive range. Master Lock supplies safety padlocks and lockout devices, well-supported across Australia. Brady covers the broader identification range — tags, labels, signs — alongside their LOTO equipment.

Building a LOTO program

A working LOTO program needs more than equipment — it needs trained workers, written procedures for each piece of equipment that's regularly isolated, and management commitment to the procedures being followed. The equipment is the easy part; the training and procedure development is where most programs succeed or fail. Worth getting external WHS consulting if you're starting from scratch.

Compliance and codes

Australian workplace safety requires effective isolation procedures for hazardous energy sources. The specific codes and standards depend on industry — AS/NZS 4024 for machinery safety, AS/NZS 3000 for electrical, and various industry-specific codes. A proper LOTO program demonstrates compliance with these requirements and reduces both injury risk and legal exposure.

Companion ranges

LOTO equipment sits alongside our broader workplace safety range — PPE, signage, first aid, emergency equipment. For complete site safety setup, contact our team.