An educational library of workplace documents — purpose, who completes them, when they are used, typical fields, common mistakes and how they connect. Linked to workplace safety, workplace training, occupations, industries and employment documents. Informational only — template examples, not legal advice or official documents; employers remain responsible and using a document does not guarantee compliance.
What a lockout/tagout permit is
A lockout/tagout (LOTO) permit documents that the energy sources of a machine — electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, stored, gravity — have been isolated and secured before work begins, and that they will only be restored under control once the work is done.
This page is an educational overview with a simplified example. It is not an official template and does not itself make any equipment safe — isolation is carried out by competent people following the employer’s safe system of work.
Purpose
- Confirm the equipment’s energy sources are isolated and secured before work.
- Record who isolated, who holds the lock and who is authorised on the work.
- Prevent unexpected start-up or release of stored energy during the task.
- Control the safe restoration of energy once the work is complete.
Who completes it
- An authorised person who isolates and applies the locks and tags.
- The people working on the equipment, who confirm they are protected.
- The employer decides who is authorised to isolate and to issue the permit.
- It is the employer’s responsibility to set the isolation procedure.
When it is used
- Before maintenance, cleaning, clearing a blockage or repair on machinery.
- Whenever guards must be removed or a person could be exposed to energy.
- Before a breakdown repair where unexpected start-up is a risk.
- Whenever the risk assessment or method statement requires isolation.
Typical fields
- Equipment identity, location and the task to be carried out.
- Energy sources isolated and the isolation points secured.
- Locks and tags applied, and who holds the keys.
- People authorised to work, and confirmation of zero-energy where checked.
- Restoration step, removal of locks and sign-off to return to service.
- Example fields only — adapt to the equipment and your isolation procedure.
Common mistakes
- Isolating only one energy source and missing stored or secondary energy.
- Sharing or removing another person’s lock.
- Restoring energy before confirming everyone is clear.
- Treating the permit as paperwork rather than a controlled procedure.
Document workflow
A lockout/tagout permit usually follows a risk assessment and method statement and is required before a breakdown or maintenance task on energised equipment. It controls the work until energy is restored under sign-off, after which a pre-use check confirms the equipment is fit to run.
See the related documents below for what is commonly used with and completed after a lockout/tagout permit.
Retention (high level)
Completed permits are typically retained for a period set by the employer and any applicable rules, alongside the related maintenance records. This page does not state a required period — confirm with the applicable law and the official authority.
Completing and sharing as a PDF
Permits are commonly completed, signed and stored as PDFs with the job records. Exporting to PDF supports the record; it does not make the isolation official or guarantee compliance.
Employer checklist
- Set a clear isolation procedure for each type of equipment.
- Authorise and train the people who isolate and issue permits.
- Provide the right locks, tags and isolation hardware.
- Make sure energy is only restored under controlled sign-off.
Worker notes
- Never work on equipment unless it is isolated and secured.
- Apply your own lock where the procedure requires, and never remove another’s.
- Confirm the equipment is at zero energy before you start.
Country considerations
Requirements for isolating energy and safe systems of work, and the official authority, vary by country. This page is general and high-level — not a statement of any country’s law and not a guarantee of validity.
Confirm current requirements with the official authority for your country and a qualified professional.
Who is responsible
The employer is responsible for safe systems of work, isolation procedures, competence and compliance. This page is an educational overview with a template example; it does not make equipment safe and does not transfer responsibility.
Export, edit and share documents
The documents, policies and templates this involves can be exported, edited, signed, stored and shared as PDFs with the HELPERG PDF Editor.
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