Lockout/Tagout Overview

Educational workplace-safety awareness — connected to industries, occupations, employment law, employment documents and company types. Informational only — not legal advice and not a substitute for mandatory workplace safety training; employers remain responsible for compliance, training and worker authorization.

What lockout/tagout is

Lockout/tagout is a method used to make sure that machinery and equipment are properly switched off, isolated from their energy sources, and unable to start again while someone is working on them. Lockout typically uses physical locks to hold isolation devices in the safe position, while tagout uses warning tags to indicate that equipment must not be operated.

This page is general awareness only. It does not set out a procedure for any specific machine, nor does it authorise anyone to isolate equipment. Energy isolation involves serious hazards, including stored energy, and must follow your employer’s written procedures and be carried out only by people trained and authorised to do so.

Why it matters and where it applies

• Unexpected start-up or release of energy during maintenance can cause severe injury.
• It applies wherever machinery is serviced, cleaned, repaired or unblocked.
• Energy sources can include electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic and stored energy.
• Isolation protects the person working and anyone else nearby.
• Procedures must be followed precisely; partial isolation can be dangerous.

Key general points

• The aim is to ensure equipment cannot move or release energy while work is done.
• Stored energy, such as in springs, capacitors or pressurised systems, must also be controlled.
• Locks and tags communicate clearly that equipment must not be re-energised.
• Only trained, authorised people should isolate, lock and re-energise equipment.
• Your employer is responsible for the procedures, equipment and training.

Practical awareness tips

• Never operate or remove a lock or tag applied by someone else.
• Do not attempt to clear, clean or maintain machinery you are not trained and authorised to isolate.
• Follow your employer’s written isolation procedure exactly.
• Confirm energy is isolated and stored energy released before work, as your procedure requires.
• Raise concerns about isolation with your supervisor before starting work.

Common misunderstandings

• Assuming switching a machine off is the same as isolating it.
• Forgetting stored energy that can still cause movement after power is off.
• Removing another person’s lock or tag to speed up a job.
• Treating this page as a procedure or as authorisation to isolate equipment.