Lockout-Tagout

Abbreviation: LOTO

Procedure for isolating dangerous energy sources (electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, steam) before maintenance, with physical lock and identifying tag.

In practice

Standard practice for any electrical or mechanical isolation. The operator places a personal lock on the isolation point; the lock comes off only when that operator declares work complete. Multiple operators apply individual locks to the same point.

Regulatory detail & full definition

Essential for any work on machinery that could be re-energised. Each authorised person fits their personal lock; only that person can remove it. Multi-lock hasps allow parallel work. The corresponding tag identifies who, when, why. Prevents the common 'someone restored power without checking' fatality.

Authoritative source: ISM Code ↗

Permit-to-Work

Source: ISM Code Element 6; IEC 60364-6 (electrical safety); ISO 22301

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Lockout-Tagout

In practice

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Lockout-Tagout

In practice

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