9
Control of Hazardous Energy – (Lockout / Tagout)
Lockout / Tagout (LOTO) refers to specific practices and procedures to safeguard employees from the
unexpected energy, startup of machinery/equipment, or the release of hazardous energy during service
or maintenance activities.
This requires that a designated individual turn off and disconnect the machinery/equipment from its
energy source(s) before performing service or maintenance and that the authorized employee(s) lock
and tag the energy-isolating device(s) to prevent the release of hazardous energy and take steps to
verify that the energy has been isolated effectively
.
List of Related Terms
Affected
Employee
An employee whose job requires them to operate a machine or piece of equipment
on which service or maintenance is being performed.
Authorized
Employee
A person who locks or implements a tagout system procedure on machines or
equipment to perform service or maintenance on that machine or equipment. An
authorized employee and an affected employee may be the same person when the
affected employee's duties also include performing service or maintenance.
Energy Source
Any source of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, or
other energy.
Lockout
The placement of a lockout device (such as a lock) on an energy-isolating device, in
accordance with an established procedure that ensures the device and the
equipment cannot be operated until the lockout device is removed.
Servicing and /
or
Maintenance
Workplace activities such as constructing, installing, setting up, adjusting,
inspecting, modifying, maintaining or servicing machines or equipment. These
activities include lubrication, cleaning or un-jamming of machines or equipment,
and making adjustments or tool changes where the employee may be exposed to the
unexpected energy, start-up of equipment or release of hazardous energy.
Tagout
The placement of a tagout device (such as a tag) on an energy-isolating device, in
accordance with an established procedure that ensures the device and the
equipment may not be operated until the tagout device is removed.
The Fatal Five Main Causes of Lockout/Tagout
Injuries
1.
Failure to stop equipment
2.
Failure to disconnect from a power source
3.
Failure to dissipate (bleed, neutralize)
residual energy
4.
Accidental re-starting of equipment
5.
Failure to clear work areas before re-starting
Example of lockout tags, lockout
hasp and keyed lock
