title: Self-audit of lockout/tagout in manufacturing workplaces: A pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Occupational health and safety (OHS) self-auditing is a common practice in industrial workplaces. However, few audit instruments have been tested for inter-rater reliability and accuracy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A lockout/tagout (LOTO) self-audit checklist was developed for use in manufacturing enterprises. It was tested for inter-rater reliability and accuracy using responses of business self-auditors and external auditors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inter-rater reliability at ten businesses was excellent (κ = 0.84). Business self-auditors had high (100%) accuracy in identifying elements of LOTO practice that were present as well those that were absent (81% accuracy). Reliability and accuracy increased further when problematic checklist questions were removed from the analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicate that the LOTO self-audit checklist would be useful in manufacturing firms' efforts to assess and improve their LOTO programs. In addition, a reliable self-audit instrument removes the need for external auditors to visit worksites, thereby expanding capacity for outreach and intervention while minimizing costs.
authors.affiliation: HealthPartners Institute, Bloomington, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Samuel C
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2395-2202
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Yamin
authors.affiliation: HealthPartners Institute, Bloomington, Minnesota.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: HealthPartners Institute, Bloomington, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.affiliation: MEMIC, Portland, Maine.
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stanley
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control; D057189:Checklist; D006801:Humans; D008281:Maine; D008330:Management Audit / Q000379:methods*; D066192:Manufacturing Industry / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D008910:Minnesota; D016272:Occupational Health; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration
keywords: audit; lockout/tagout; machine safety; manufacturing; occupational health; safety management