Lockout-tagout and safety compliance systems and methods

Abstract

The present application discloses systems and methods for systems and methods of creating, administrating, assigning, and managing lockout-tagout (LOTO) procedures and other safety compliance procedures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 storing a proposed lockout-tagout (LOTO) procedure on one or more data storage devices;   determining automatically with a computer whether the proposed LOTO procedure requires authorization from authorization personnel;   automatically displaying on an electronic display an indication that the proposed LOTO procedure requires authorization responsive to a determination that the proposed LOTO procedure requires authorization from authorization personnel; and   receiving with a computer authorization data related to the proposed LOTO procedure from the one or more authorization personnel.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising automatically with a computer changing a status of the proposed LOTO procedure to permit the proposed LOTO procedure to be used as an actual LOTO procedure, responsive to a determination that the proposed LOTO procedure does not require authorization from authorization personnel. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising automatically with a computer sending a notification to a person associated with the proposed LOTO procedure that the proposed LOTO procedure has not been approved responsive to the authorization data indicating that the proposed LOTO procedure has not been approved. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising automatically with a computer changing a status of the proposed LOTO procedure to permit the proposed LOTO procedure to be used as an actual LOTO procedure responsive to the authorization data indicating that the proposed LOTO procedure has been approved. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising automatically with a computer archiving a then-current LOTO procedure and automatically with a computer changing a status of the proposed LOTO procedure to permit the proposed LOTO procedure to be used in place of the then-current LOTO procedure responsive to the authorization data indicating that the proposed LOTO procedure has been approved. 
     
     
         6 . A computer system, comprising:
 a. one or more data storage devices for storing data related to a plurality of lockout-tagout (LOTO) procedures; and   b. LOTO procedure creation logic that provides user interfaces to a plurality of users with which the users can:
 access and view LOTO procedure data from the one or more data storage devices; 
 edit LOTO procedure data and save the edited LOTO procedure data to the one or more data storage devices; 
 request authorization for a proposed LOTO procedure to be used as an actual LOTO procedure; and 
   c. LOTO procedure authorization logic that:
 automatically determines whether a proposed LOTO procedure requires authorization from authorization personnel; 
 automatically provides to one or more authorization personnel an indication that the proposed LOTO procedure requires authorization responsive to a determination that the proposed LOTO procedure requires authorization from authorization personnel; and 
 receives authorization data related to the proposed LOTO procedure from the one or more authorization personnel. 
   
     
     
         7 . The computer system of  claim 6 , wherein the LOTO procedure authorization logic automatically changes a status of the proposed LOTO procedure to permit the proposed LOTO procedure to be used as an actual LOTO procedure responsive to the proposed LOTO procedure not requiring authorization from authorization personnel. 
     
     
         8 . The computer system according to  claim 7 , wherein the LOTO procedure authorization logic automatically sends a notification to a person associated with the proposed LOTO procedure that the proposed LOTO procedure has not been approved responsive to the authorization data indicating that the proposed LOTO procedure has not been approved. 
     
     
         9 . The computer system according to  claim 7 , wherein the LOTO procedure authorization logic automatically changes a status of the proposed LOTO procedure to permit the proposed LOTO procedure to be used as an actual LOTO procedure responsive to the authorization data indicating that the proposed LOTO procedure has been approved. 
     
     
         10 . The computer system according to  claim 9 , wherein the LOTO procedure authorization logic automatically archives a then-current LOTO procedure and changing a status of the proposed LOTO procedure to permit the proposed LOTO procedure to be used in place of the then-current LOTO procedure responsive to the authorization data indicating that the proposed LOTO procedure has been approved. 
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 storing a plurality of lockout-tagout (LOTO) procedures on at least one data storage device;   storing personnel data related to a plurality of workers on at least one data storage device, the personnel data including data indicating at least which portions of LOTO procedures that a worker of the plurality of workers is permitted to perform;   providing a computer user interface with which a user can select a LOTO procedure from the plurality of LOTO procedures on the data storage device;   automatically accessing personnel data related to a worker assigned to perform at least one portion of the selected LOTO procedure with a computer; and   automatically determining with a computer whether the worker assigned to perform the at least one portion of the selected LOTO procedure is authorized to perform the at least one portion of the selected LOTO procedure by comparing at least some of the accessed personnel data to at least some data associated with the selected LOTO procedure.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing a computer user interface with which a user can select at least one worker to perform at least one portion of the selected LOTO procedure; and   automatically accessing personnel data stored on the at least one data storage device with a computer, the personnel data related to the at least one worker assigned to perform the at least one portion of the selected LOTO procedure.   
     
     
         13 . A method, comprising:
 storing a plurality of lockout-tagout (LOTO) procedures on at least one data storage device, a plurality of LOTO procedures comprising a plurality of steps;   storing personnel data related to a plurality of workers on the at least one data storage device, the personnel data including data indicating which LOTO procedure steps that at least some of the workers of the plurality of workers are permitted to perform;   providing a computer user interface with which a user can select a LOTO procedure from the plurality of LOTO procedures on the data storage device;   providing a computer user interface with which a user can select a step of the selected LOTO procedure;   providing a computer user interface with which a user can select at least one worker to perform the selected step of the selected LOTO procedure;   automatically accessing personnel data with a computer, the personnel data related to the at least one worker assigned to perform the step of the selected LOTO procedure; and   automatically determining with a computer whether the at least one worker assigned to perform the selected step of the selected LOTO procedure is authorized to perform the selected step of the selected LOTO procedure by comparing at least some of the accessed personnel data to at least some data associated with the selected LOTO procedure.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising automatically displaying on an electronic display a message consistent with the determination related to the at least one worker's authorization with respect to the selected LOTO procedure. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13  further comprising automatically displaying on an electronic display a message consistent with the determination related to the at least one worker's authorization with respect to the selected LOTO procedure.