Safety lockout systems and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A lockout-tagout system comprising:
- a plurality of lockout-tagout devices; and
a lockout-tagout electronics device comprising processing electronics configured to;
receive information regarding a lockout-tagout procedure for a location or device in response to reading a location tag via optical or RFID recognition;
recall the lockout-tagout procedure for the location or device corresponding with the location tag based on the information received in response to reading the location tag;
present feedback instructions to a user regarding at least one of placing and removing one or more of the plurality of lockout-tagout devices according to the lockout-tagout procedure;
read identifying information from the one or more of the plurality of lockout-tagout devices that are placed or removed as a part of the lockout-tagout procedure; and
cause the one or more of the plurality of lockout-tagout devices that are placed or removed to be associated with the location or device in a memory when the one or more of the plurality of lockout-tagout devices are determined to comply with the lockout-tagout procedure, wherein the association is made in accordance with the lockout-tagout procedure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lockout-tagout system for use with at least one securing item may include at least one lock for locking the securing item in place. The lockout-tagout system may further include at least one lockout tag on or near the securing item or lock. The lockout tag may have a wireless identification device. The lockout-tagout system may further include a reader configured to read the wireless identification device.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A lockout-tagout system comprising:
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a plurality of lockout-tagout devices; and a lockout-tagout electronics device comprising processing electronics configured to; receive information regarding a lockout-tagout procedure for a location or device in response to reading a location tag via optical or RFID recognition; recall the lockout-tagout procedure for the location or device corresponding with the location tag based on the information received in response to reading the location tag; present feedback instructions to a user regarding at least one of placing and removing one or more of the plurality of lockout-tagout devices according to the lockout-tagout procedure; read identifying information from the one or more of the plurality of lockout-tagout devices that are placed or removed as a part of the lockout-tagout procedure; and cause the one or more of the plurality of lockout-tagout devices that are placed or removed to be associated with the location or device in a memory when the one or more of the plurality of lockout-tagout devices are determined to comply with the lockout-tagout procedure, wherein the association is made in accordance with the lockout-tagout procedure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A lockout-tagout system, comprising:
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a location tag having a first wireless identification device; at least one securing item having a second wireless identification device; at least one lock for locking the securing item in place, the lock having a third wireless identification device; at least one lockout tag having a fourth wireless identification device; and a reader configured to read the first, second, third, and fourth wireless identification devices of the location tag, the at least one securing item, the at least one lock, and the at least one lockout tag; wherein the reader is configured to prompt a user to take a photograph of the lockout-tagout system upon completion of a lockout-tagout procedure; and wherein the reader is configured to transmit the photograph to a remote system with information read from the wireless identification devices. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A lockout station system for use with a plurality of lockout-tagout devices, comprising:
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a lockout station housing; a first wireless identification device associated with the lockout station housing; a second wireless identification device associated with a lockout-tagout procedure listing for the lockout station housing; and a reader configured to read the second wireless identification device; wherein the reader is configured to instruct a user to check out certain of the lockout-tagout devices based on information read from the second wireless identification device; wherein the reader is configured to check out at least one of the plurality of lockout-tagout devices using wireless communications and according to the instructions; wherein the reader is configured to check that the at least one of the plurality of lockout-tagout devices checked out are correct lockout-tagout devices for a lockout-tagout procedure corresponding with the instructions; wherein the reader is configured to write check out information to at least one of the first wireless identification device and the second wireless identification device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A location sign for use in a lockout-tagout system, comprising:
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a wireless communications device; and memory storing a unique identifier for the location sign and an identifier of a lockout-tagout procedure for use with the location sign; wherein the unique identifier indicates at least one of a location and an equipment at the location of the location sign; wherein the identifier of the lockout-tagout procedure indicates a list of lockout-tagout devices used in the lockout-tagout procedure; and wherein the memory further comprises writable fields of information that indicate lockout-tagout devices from the list of lockout-tagout devices used in the lockout-tagout procedure that are coupled to the equipment. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A portable electronic device for reading lockout-tagout devices, comprising:
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a transceiver configured to use wireless communications to read the lockout-tagout devices; a display; and a processing circuit coupled to the transceiver and the display, the processing circuit configured to recall a lockout-tagout procedure from memory responsive to receiving information read by the transceiver from an identifier of a location sign indicative of the lockout-tagout procedure for a location and to cause instruction steps to be shown on the display regarding at least one of placing or removing one or more of the lockout-tagout devices according to the lockout-tagout procedure, wherein the instruction steps comprise reading the lockout-tagout devices during the lockout-tagout procedure and checking the read lockout-tagout devices relative to the lockout-tagout procedure to determine the read lockout-tagout devices correspond with the lockout-tagout procedure.
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Specification