1.2 Scope of the Lockout/Tagout Rule
Employers must establish an Energy Control Program (ECP) to ensure that before service and
maintenance is performed, machines and equipment that could unexpectedly startup, become
energized, or release stored energy, are isolated from their energy source(s) and rendered safe.
To do that, employers need to accomplish three critical activities to ensure employee safety when they
are servicing or working near equipment that could expose them to hazardous energy:
- Energy control procedures: Employers must detail and document the specific information that
an authorized employee must know to accomplish lockout/tagout, i.e., the scope, purpose,
authorization rules and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy. See this
sample. - Periodic inspections: Inspections help employers ensure compliance with their energy control
program and discover deficiencies. An inspection of each energy control procedure must be
done at least annually by an authorized employee. Inspections of energy control procedures can
be scheduled or random audits. - Employee training: All employees must be trained to know basic hazardous-energy concepts and
the purpose of the devices used to control it. They should also know what tasks might expose
them to hazardous energy and how it can be controlled.
2. The purpose of lockout/tagout is to prevent injury due to the unexpected startup of
machines and equipment, or _____.a. release of stored energy
b. failure of equipment
c. unapproved operation of machinery
d. failure of operation1.3 What is “Lockout/Tagout”?
Lockout/tagout" (LOTO) 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.
The standard 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. It also requires that an