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What Is Lockout Tagout?
The term lockout tagout, or LOTO, refers to the safety practice of shutting down dangerous equipment and preventing it from being restarted until it has been properly serviced or maintained by trained personnel.
According to OSHA, hazardous energy sources can include mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, chemical, pneumatic, and thermal energy. If a machine is restarted before it has been properly serviced, hazardous energy may be released and cause serious injury to employees.
To help protect employees, OSHA has established guidelines for controlling hazardous energy. The following eight steps can help facilities establish a proper lockout tagout procedure.
View our 8 Steps to Ensure Proper Lockout Tagout SlideShare presentation.
8 Steps for Proper Lockout Tagout
1. Notify Employees About the Required Servicing
All affected employees should be notified that a machine or system will be shut down for maintenance or servicing. Clear communication is essential. Employees must understand that equipment under lockout tagout must not be used or operated until servicing has been completed and the equipment has been returned to service.
2. Identify All Hazardous Energy Sources
The authorized employee performing the lockout tagout procedure must identify the equipment’s energy sources and any associated hazards. This includes determining the type and magnitude of the energy involved and understanding the proper methods for controlling each energy source.
3. Shut Down the Equipment
If the equipment is operating, it must be shut down using its normal stopping procedure. Depending on the equipment, this may involve pressing a stop button, closing a valve, opening a switch, or following another established shutdown process.
4. Isolate the Equipment from Its Energy Sources
After the equipment has been shut down, it must be isolated from every hazardous energy source. Proper isolation helps prevent the equipment from being accidentally restarted or re-energized while maintenance is being performed.
5. Apply Lockout Devices and Tags
Lockout devices and tags should be applied to the appropriate energy-isolating devices. These devices indicate that the equipment is not operational and must not be restarted or placed back into service.
6. Release or Restrain Stored Energy
Any stored or residual energy must be released, disconnected, restrained, or otherwise made safe. An unintended release of stored energy can seriously injure employees and must be treated as a critical part of the lockout tagout procedure.
Stored energy may be found in springs, capacitors, hydraulic systems, flywheels, compressed air, gas, water pressure, or steam. Common methods for controlling stored energy include blocking, repositioning, bleeding, venting, discharging, and grounding.
7. Verify Complete Energy Isolation
Once the equipment has been isolated and all stored energy has been controlled, the authorized employee must verify that the equipment is fully disconnected from its energy sources.
Before testing the equipment, make sure the area is clear of employees and that the equipment is properly isolated. Attempt to start or operate the equipment using its normal controls. If the equipment does not start, the energy isolation has been verified.
After completing the test, return all operating controls to the neutral or off position.
8. Confirm Lockout Tagout Is Complete
After all previous steps have been completed, the equipment is considered fully locked out and ready for servicing or maintenance. The lockout tagout devices should remain in place until the work is finished and the equipment can be safely returned to operation.
If you’re looking for more Lockout/Tagout information, check out our comprehensive LOTO Program page with key requirements and links to guides and products to keep your workplace safe and compliant.