Safety Tip - Lockout Tagout

To protect you from the serious hazards posed by the unexpected start-up or operation of equipment during repair or maintenance, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has established a Control of Hazardous Energy standard. It is commonly referred to as the lockout/tagout (LOTO), or energy isolation standard. This standard requires the application of markings and barriers that prevent unauthorized persons from energizing and operating equipment. Â

Energy in any form becomes hazardous when it builds to a certain level, or is released inadvertently or unexpectedly. Lockout/tagout refers to specific practices and procedures that safeguard employees from the unexpected startup of machinery and equipment, or the release of hazardous energy, during service or maintenance activities.

The goal of this lesson is to provide awareness level training for all employees about the existence of hazardous energy sources; the isolation of those energy sources during certain maintenance and repair activities; and the communication and control procedures that limit access to those energy sources through the use of tags and locks.