Office of Environmental Safety & Health

PROTOCOL: When Performing Lockout/Tagout

Lockout/tagout is an essential safety procedure that protects workers from injury while working on or near electrical circuits and equipment. Lockout involves applying a physical lock to the power source(s) of circuits and equipment after they have been shut off and de-energized. The source is then tagged out with an easy-to-read tag that alerts other workers in the area that a lock has been applied.

In addition to protecting workers from electrical hazards, lockout/tag-out prevents contact with operating equipment parts: blades, gears, shafts, presses, etc.

Also, lockout/tagout prevents the unexpected release of hazardous gasses, fluids, or solid matter in areas where workers are present.

When Performing Lockout/Tagout:

Prepare for shutdown.

Identify all sources of electrical energy for the equipment or circuits in question.

Disable backup energy sources such as generators and batteries.

Identify all shut-offs for each energy source.

Notify all personnel that equipment and circuitry must be shut off, locked out, and tagged out. (Simply turning a switch off is NOT enough.)

Shut off energy sources and lock switchgear in the OFF position. Each worker should apply his or her individual lock. Do not give your key to anyone.

Test equipment and circuitry to make sure they are de-energized. This must be done by a qualified person.

Deplete stored energy by bleeding, blocking, grounding, etc.

Apply a tag to alert other workers that an energy source or piece of equipment has been locked out.

Make sure everyone is safe and accounted for before equipment and circuits are unlocked and turned back on. Note that only a qualified person may determine when it is safe to re-energize circuits.

USM Campus Environmental Safety & Health

July 2003