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 risk assessment is
A lockout/tagout (LOTO) risk assessment examines the hazardous energy in equipment — electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, stored and thermal — and records how it is isolated, locked, tagged and proved safe before maintenance, then released afterwards.
This page is an educational overview with a simplified example. It is not an official template, not jurisdiction-specific and not legal advice — the employer decides what their energy isolation assessment must cover.
Purpose
- Identify all hazardous energy sources in the equipment.
- Record isolation points, locks, tags and proving steps.
- Prevent unexpected start-up or release during maintenance.
- Define safe release and return to service.
Who completes it
- A competent person appointed by the employer.
- With input from maintenance and operations.
- Reviewed within the organisation’s own process.
- It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the assessor is competent.
When it is used
- Before maintenance, cleaning or clearing blockages on equipment.
- When equipment, energy sources or procedures change.
- When introducing new machines.
- After a near miss involving unexpected energy.
Typical fields
- Equipment and all its energy sources.
- Isolation points and the sequence to isolate.
- Locks, tags and who holds them.
- Proving dead or de-energised, and stored-energy release.
- Safe release and return to service, and review date.
- Example fields only — adapt to the equipment and the applicable law.
Common mistakes
- Missing a secondary or stored energy source.
- Relying on a stop button instead of locked isolation.
- Multiple people working with no individual locks.
- Returning to service without checking everyone is clear.
Document workflow
A lockout/tagout risk assessment supports the machinery risk assessment, the safe system of work and maintenance permits. It links to electrical isolation and maintenance records; a change or incident triggers a review.
See the related documents below for what is commonly used with a lockout/tagout risk assessment.
Retention (high level)
Energy isolation assessments and procedures are generally kept for as long as they are relevant and for a period afterwards, in line with the employer’s obligations. Specific retention periods vary by jurisdiction.
This page does not state a required period — confirm retention with the applicable law and the official authority.
Completing and sharing as a PDF
Energy isolation assessments are commonly completed and stored as PDFs alongside machine and maintenance records. Exporting to PDF supports documentation; it does not make the assessment official or guarantee compliance.
Employer checklist
- Identify every energy source, including stored energy.
- Provide locks, tags and a defined isolation sequence.
- Use individual locks where several people work.
- Check the area is clear before return to service.
Worker notes
- Isolate, lock and prove dead before working on equipment.
- Apply your own lock and never remove someone else’s.
- Confirm everyone is clear before re-energising.
Country considerations
Duties around energy isolation and safe maintenance vary by country, and the official authority differs. This page is high-level and general — it is not a statement of any country’s law and not a guarantee that a document is valid anywhere.
Always confirm the current requirements with the official authority for your country and a qualified professional.
Who is responsible
The employer is responsible for safe isolation of hazardous energy and compliance. This page is an educational overview with a template example; it does not determine what your assessment must contain, does not make a workplace compliant 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.
Free, printable HR & employment resources
Practical, ungated resources to put this into action — no signup.