Gardus® vs Pro-lock: The next generation of reusable cable lockouts

In high-risk industrial environments, reusable cable lockouts play a critical role in ensuring worker safety and regulatory compliance. These essential tools are at the heart of effective lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures. They are designed to prevent accidental energisation of machinery during maintenance or servicing. For years, products like Pro-lock have set the standard, earning trust across a wide range of industries for their durability and reliability.

But as safety demands evolve, teams are looking for systems that go beyond compliance, they want faster, smarter, and more durable lockouts that match the pace of modern worksites.

That’s where REGALTAG’s Gardus® reusable cable lockouts come in. These are next-generation reusable cable lockout system that build on the solid foundation laid by products like Pro-lock. Rather than reinventing the wheel, Gardus® focuses on refining what already works, enhancing usability, visibility, and long-term performance.

In this blog, we will explore how Gardus® reusable cable lockouts stack up against Pro-lock, highlighting the key differences in design, usability, and durability. As well as looking at why it might be the smarter choice for teams looking to modernise their lockout systems without abandoning what works.

Shared purpose, different approach

Both Pro-lock and Gardus® are designed with the same core objective: to support safe and effective lockout/tagout (LOTO) practices that protect workers during equipment maintenance. Their purpose is aligned, but the path each product takes reflects a different design philosophy.

Gardus® refines what works, and fixes what doesn’t. The focus was on thoughtful refinement, enhancing usability, improving durability, and addressing everyday challenges faced by safety teams. It’s an evolution of a trusted concept, not a reinvention. It is aimed at making lockouts faster, clearer, and more reliable in the field.

ENHANCED COLOUR VARIETY FOR BETTER VISUAL MANAGEMENT

In busy industrial environments, visual clarity plays a crucial role in ensuring safe and efficient LOTO procedures. Clear colour coding helps teams instantly recognise the status, ownership, or purpose of a lockout device, minimising the risk of errors and miscommunication.

Pro-lock provides four standard colour options, which provide a basic level of visual separation.

REGALTAG’S reusable cable lockouts expand that choice with six high-visibility colour options, giving safety teams greater flexibility and control over how lockouts are managed and identified on site.

Why more colour options matter:

• Better organisation: Assign specific colours to departments, maintenance teams, or shifts for instant recognition.
• Clearer energy isolation: Use different colours to indicate the type of energy being controlled.
• Improved visibility: Bright, distinct colours make lockouts easier to spot in low-light or cluttered environments.
• Enhanced compliance: Strong visual management helps ensure consistent lockout practices, even in multi-contractor or high-turnover settings.

By expanding the colour range, Gardus® makes it easier to maintain order, accountability, and safety across complex worksites. This helps teams work faster, communicate clearer, and stay compliant with confidence.

UV RESISTANCE FOR TOUGHER ENVIRONMENTS

Lockout/tagout devices are often used in challenging environments, from outdoor worksites to high-temperature industrial settings, where exposure to sunlight, moisture, and chemicals is routine. Over time, standard plastic materials can fade, become brittle, or degrade, compromising both visibility and performance.

REGALTAG’s cable lockouts are engineered with UV-resistant materials, designed specifically to withstand prolonged exposure to harsh conditions. This ensures that the cable lockouts retain their colour vibrancy, structural integrity, and functionality, even in outdoor or high-UV environments.

From offshore platforms to utilities, construction, and outdoor manufacturing sites, Gardus® lockouts maintain their integrity and colour where standard plastics quickly degrade.

In contrast, conventional lockouts, including older designs made with non-UV stabilised plastics, can suffer from:

• Faded colours that reduce visibility and make identification difficult
• Cracked or weakened housings that compromise safety
• A shorter lifespan, leading to more frequent replacements and increased costs

By choosing a UV-resistant solution like Gardus®, organisations can rely on longer-lasting, more durable lockouts that continue to perform and stay visible, regardless of the environment. It’s a small material improvement with a significant impact on safety, compliance, and cost-efficiency.

The result is a lockout that stays strong and visible for longer, reducing replacement frequency, improving audit readiness, and supporting long-term safety compliance.

User-friendly locking system

A key difference between Pro-lock and REGALTAG’s Gardus® lies in the application process, specifically how the cable is secured.

Pro-lock requires a wrench style tool to tighten the locking mechanism, which can slow down the process and create extra steps for maintenance teams. In fast-paced environments, this reliance on additional tools can lead to delays, misplaced equipment, or inconsistent application.

Unlike Pro-lock, REGALTAG’s reusable cable lockout system features a compact locking tool designed for ease of use. This small, lightweight tool is simple to handle and eliminates the need for spanner or wrench-style tightening.

The locking tool includes a dedicated hole, allowing it to be securely fixed to the lockout body with a padlock during use, keeping everything safely together and preventing loss.

This thoughtful design makes the Gardus® system faster, safer, and more convenient to apply, particularly in high-turnover maintenance environments where speed, consistency, and reliability are essential.

Practical improvements for real-world use

Gardus® was designed based on Pro-lock, but with practical enhancements that make a noticeable difference in day-to-day operations. While the core concept remains familiar, REGALTAG focused on refining the details that matter most in the field.

Key improvements include:

• Faster application: Smoother cable feed and improved grip points reduce effort during application, especially when wearing gloves.
• Better ergonomics: A more comfortable and intuitive design minimises strain during repeated use, ideal for high-frequency lockouts.
• Compact build: Optimised for easier storage and transport without compromising durability.
• Built-in tool: As mentioned earlier, it eliminates the need for external tools, simplifying the process further.

These aren’t just cosmetic tweaks, they are the small, smart details that make a big difference in real-world safety performance.

Reusable cable lockouts: A smarter safety solution

REGALTAG’s Gardus® reusable cable lockouts redefine what dependable lockout/tagout safety looks like. Instead of reinventing the wheel, Gardus® refines it, enhancing every detail that matters most in real-world environments.

With a broader colour range for sharper visual management, UV-resistant materials that endure the toughest conditions, and a tool-free locking system designed for speed and simplicity, REGALTAG’s reusable cable lockouts are built to perform wherever safety can’t be compromised. Its reusable, environmentally conscious design adds another layer of value, protecting not just your people, but your planet and your bottom line.

For safety leaders determined to modernise their lockout/tagout processes, Gardus® delivers a clear advantage: greater efficiency, stronger durability, and total confidence in compliance.

Explore the Gardus® range today and discover how small innovations can lead to significantly better outcomes in workplace safety.