What it means
Lockout/tagout, or LOTO, is how a site keeps a machine from moving while a person is working on it. A lockout device holds an energy source in the off position. A tag warns that the equipment must not be operated.
The energy can be electrical, but it can also be hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal, chemical or stored in a spring or a raised load. A LOTO program covers all of it.
In the US, the main rule is OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147. Check the current rule. Each machine also has its own written procedure, and the program normally covers who is authorized, who is affected, training, periodic review and how locks are removed.
Why it matters
An unexpected start-up or a release of stored energy can cause the most severe injuries on a site. LOTO is one of the controls crews and auditors look at hardest. Following your site's written procedure for each machine is what counts.
What it looks like on a site
- Each machine has its own written lockout procedure, posted or on hand for the crew.
- Authorized workers apply their own personal locks and tags, and keep their own keys.
- Affected workers, such as operators nearby, know the machine is locked out and why.
- Lock and tag logs show what was locked out, by whom and when.
- The program is reviewed on a schedule set by the current rule and the company.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check the current rule and your own procedures. Back to the glossary