Procedural Elements

Lockout or tagout procedures must cover the following actions and must be done in the following sequence:

1. Preparation for shutdown. Before an authorized or affected employee turns off a machine, the authorized employee must have knowledge of the type and magnitude of the energy, the hazards of the energy to be controlled, and the method or means to control the energy.
2. Machine shutdown. The machine must be turned off or shut down using the procedures established for the machine. An orderly shutdown must be used to avoid any additional or increased hazard(s) to employees as a result of the equipment stoppage.
3. Machine isolation. All energy-isolating devices needed to control machine energy must be physically located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine from the energy source(s).
4. Lockout or tagout device application.
   • Lockout or tagout devices must be affixed to each energy-isolating device by authorized employees.
   • Lockout devices, where used, must be affixed in a manner that will hold the energy-isolating devices in a "safe" or "off" position.
   • Tagout devices, where used, must be affixed in such a manner as will clearly indicate that the operation or movement of energy-isolating devices from the "safe" or "off" position is prohibited.
     • Where tagout devices are used with energy-isolating devices designed with the capability of being locked, the tag must be attached at the same point at which the lock would have been attached.
     • Where a tag cannot be affixed directly to the energy-isolating device, the tag must be located as close as safely possible to the device, in a position that will be immediately obvious to anyone attempting to operate the device.

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