Lockout/Tagout Practices & Procedures

The OSHA Control of Hazardous Energy standard (29 CFR 1910.147) is designed to ensure that employers develop and enforce an energy control program that protects their workers from the specific types of energy-related hazards on their work site. A key component of the energy control program is the required use of lockout/tagout (LOTO) devices. These devices are used to lock or tag dangerous machinery or equipment to ensure that it is properly shut off and not able to start up again while maintenance or servicing work is being performed. Some of the specific requirements regarding lockout/tagout procedures include the following:

• Lockout devices must be used for all equipment that can be locked out.
• Tagout devices may be used instead of lockout devices, but only if the tagout program provides workers with protection against energy-related hazards that is equivalent to the protection provided by lockout devices.
• New or overhauled equipment must be capable of being locked out.
• An effective tagout program must be developed, implemented, and enforced for all machines and equipment that are not capable of being locked out.
• Lockout and tagout devices must identify the individual users.
• A policy must be established that permits only the employee who applied for and received the lockout/tagout device to remove the device.
• Energy control procedures must be inspected at least annually.
• All energy control procedures must be documented.
• Effective training must be provided for all workers exposed to energy-related hazards.

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