How do I start implementing valve tags?

When working toward improving workplace safety, adding valve tags is a fairly easy and affordable option to consider. If your facility doesn’t yet have valve tags in all the places where it should, you’ll want to make a plan of action on how to implement this important safety item. The following is a simple step-by-step guide to what you need to look at in order to ensure your valve tag implementation plan goes smoothly.

Types of Valve Tags

One of the first things you’ll want to do is decide what type of valve tags to use. There are many options including plastic tags, wooden tags, metal tags, and more. When weighing your options, you will likely want to decide based on the environment in which they are installed. You don’t want to use paper or cardboard valve tags in an area where there is a lot of moisture, for example.

Location of Valves

The next thing to do is identify the location of all the valves in your facility. When doing this, you will want to designate each valve with a specific number. This number will be placed onto the valve tag so that it can be referenced in the documentation related to your implementation strategy. The valve tags themselves my only have room for a number, or you could also put other information along with the number. Either way, it is important to be able to separate each valve from the others, especially if you have a bunch of them in a small area.

Data Related to Tags

Next, you want to record detailed information about each valve into either a written document, or a computer spreadsheet. The information should include things like the numerical designation of the valve, where it is physically located, what happens when the valve is opened or closed, and what type of solution it controls. All of this should be kept in a central location that is easy to access in case anyone ever needs to look up data related to the tags.