Category: Safety & quality
Prepared by Eng. Ahmed Fathy, Projects Manager ·
Definition
Lockout tagout is a safety procedure that isolates electrical, mechanical or pressure energy before work on equipment, locks the isolator with a personal lock, tags it with the worker's name, and verifies zero energy before starting.
Why it matters on a project
It stops equipment or a panel being energised while someone works on it, a leading cause of electrocution and injury in electrical and maintenance work.
Common mistake
Switching off a breaker with no lock or tag, so someone else switches it back on while the technician works on the circuit.
Frequently asked questions
Who applies the lock?
Every worker on the equipment applies a personal lock, and only that worker removes it.
Is switching off the breaker enough?
No, lock, tag and verify zero energy before starting.
Related terms
- Permit to workWritten authorisation for hazardous work (hot work, work at height, confined spaces) under set conditions.
- Risk assessmentIdentifying hazards in each activity, estimating likelihood and severity and setting controls before work starts.
- PPEHelmet, high-visibility vest, safety boots, glasses, gloves and harness as the activity requires.
- Toolbox talkA short pre-work briefing on the day's task hazards.
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