What Is Lockout/Tagout?

A typical industrial facility features a wide variety of energy sources, such as electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, and thermal energy, in machines and other equipment. These various sources of energy present a potential hazard to workers. For example, the unexpected, uncontrolled release of stored energy can cause serious injury or even death to workers during maintenance and servicing of equipment and machines.

Properly-executed lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures can keep workers safe from hazardous energy releases. These procedures are designed to ensure that workers carefully disable potentially-hazardous energy sources prior to performing maintenance or servicing machines or equipment to prevent accidental or unexpected start up.

Lockout/tagout procedures should include the following six basic steps: preparation, shutdown, isolation, lockout/tagout, stored energy check, and isolation verification. Following proper lockout/tagout procedures ensures that workers can safely service and maintain equipment without fear of the unexpected release of stored energy.

Bayport Technical's Maintenance Training System (150-MT) was designed to provide safe, hands-on lockout/tagout training for maintenance technicians. Using non-powered, but real industrial equipment, users will gain practical experience with common maintenance lockout/tagout procedures that are critical to safety in the modern industrial workplace.