Before You Lock the Gate: The Essential Holiday Shutdown Checklist for Industrial Facilities
The holiday season is cute and all, but nothing ruins Christmas faster than returning in January to a machine that has decided to “enter the new year differently.”
Across Nigeria and Ghana, factories are slowing down, offices are emptying out, and generators are finally catching their breath. But your equipment? It still needs protection.
Here’s the shutdown checklist every plant manager should swear by before going on break:
1. Power Down With Intention
Don’t just switch off, isolate.
Shut down machines according to OEM procedures. Use lockout/tagout (LOTO) so nobody’s cousin wandering into the plant can accidentally power anything.
2. Drain What Must Be Drained
Compressors? Drain moisture.
Tanks? Depressurize.
Hydraulic systems? Seal properly.
January corrosion is a silent demon.
3. Clean, Lubricate, Bless
Dust and dirt don’t go on holiday.
Clean surfaces, lubricate moving parts, and cover sensitive panels. Your machines will thank you with fewer tantrums in 2025.
4. Environmental Prep
Nigeria’s dust + Ghana’s humidity = a bad combination.
Seal cabinets, wrap exposed cables, and use moisture absorbers where necessary.
5. Security & Access Control
A facility that looks asleep shouldn’t be defenseless.
Activate CCTV monitoring, restrict plant access, and ensure backup power to your critical systems.
GIL Nigeria and GIL Ghana remain available throughout the season for emergency support, calibration checks, and rapid call-outs because machines don’t know it’s Christmas.
