Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
All energy sources, including Radio Frequency (RF), must be controlled so that employee exposure to hazards is minimized.
As part of a company’s policy manual, there should be a program for controlling energy hazards that includes energy control procedures, employee training, and a timeline for periodic inspections.
Lockout or tagout shall be performed only by the authorized employees who are performing the service or maintenance.
Energy control (LOTO) procedure
- Identify equipment/power source to be LOTO
- Steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy
- Steps for the placement, removal and transfer of lockout devices or tagout devices, and the responsibility for them
- Requirements for testing machine/equipment to verify zero energy and determine the effectiveness of LOTO devices and other energy control measures
Training and Communication
Authorized employee
- Recognition of hazardous energy sources
- Type and magnitude of energy in workplace
- Methods and means for energy isolation and control
Affected employee
- Purpose and use of the energy control procedure
- Recognize and identify energy hazards
All other employees
- Procedures for energy control
- Prohibition of restarting or reenergizing equipment that is locked or tagged out
LOTO Device Removal
• LOTO shall only be removed from the energy isolating device by the employee who applied the device.
Exception: When authorized employee who applied the LOTO device is not available, device may be removed under the direction of the employer following the employer’s LOTO procedures.
Specific procedure shall include:
- Verification by employer that authorized employee who applied device is not available.
- Making all reasonable efforts to contact authorized employee to inform them that LOTO device has been removed.
- Ensuring that authorized employee has this knowledge before they resume work.
Download LockOut/TagOut poster
Additional Resources:
NATE Safety and Health Manual Online Resource Library, Chapter 23 Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Procedure:
Member Link:
Nonmember Link:
NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace
