Resources for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)

U.S. Department of Labor

Lockout/tagout” refers to specific practices and procedures to safeguard employees from the unexpected energization or startup of machinery and equipment, or the release of hazardous energy during service or maintenance activities.1 This requires, in part, that a designated individual turns off and disconnects the machinery or equipment from its energy source(s) before performing service or maintenance and that the authorized employee(s) either lock or 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. If the potential exists for the release of hazardous stored energy or for the reaccumulation of stored energy to a hazardous level, the
employer must ensure that the employee(s) take steps to prevent injury that may result from the release of the stored energy.

View the Resource

Share or bookmarklet this web page at: