Are safety padlocks resistant to salt?

It’s not uncommon for LOTO padlocks to be used in environments of high salt exposure. Not least marine environments where constant exposure to salt spray can potentially take its toll.

Not only marine environments but also all types of food manufacture as well. In such environments organisations must go to all possible lengths to ensure that a) padlocks continue to perform unhindered and b) no corrosion build up can enter the production process.

The best way to do this is to select a LOTO padlock that isn’t affected by salt and simply doesn’t rust.

Several manufacturers offer a stainless steel padlock, but our research found that these locks are not 100% stainless steel. Such locks have lock cylinder made up of brass components. Not only that, but a stainless steel padlock would not readily fall under OSHA regulations and guidelines for lockout tagout padlocks. (1910.147 – The Control of Hazardous Energy). These guidelines stipulate that the padlocks should be discernible from non-lockout padlocks in the workplace This is usually achieved by color coding.

Some LOTO padlock manufacturers have undertaken testing to established standards which include exposure to salt spray. Master Lock’s 410 LOTO padlock underwent testing to ASTM F883 (Grade 6) which included 240 hours exposure. The conclusions of this test indicate only that the padlock was still able to function. There is no information to hand as to the level of corrosion build-up evident at the end of the test. The writer of this article has seen padlocks that have been used for long periods in a salt laden environment. Given that the shackle is made from steel, rusting is inevitable.

To that end, the advice from this article is limited. If padlock corrosion is a serious issue for you, you could consider using a plastic seal instead. There’s an argument that says, a robust lockout tagout procedure with well-disciplined workers doesn’t need padlocks.

Additional reading….Lockout Tagout equipment manufacturer Brady conducted their own corrosion tests. Read the padlock corrosion test article by clicking here.