The Correct Lockout/Tagout Procedure to Follow Prior to Servicing or Maintenance

Each machine or piece of equipment requires specific procedures for lockout and
should be included in your operator’s manual. However, the following will provide
you with the generally accepted sequence.

1. Notify employees when servicing or maintenance is required on a machine
or equipment
2. The authorized employee must identify the type and magnitude of the
machine’s energy, understand its hazards and know how to control it
3. Shut the machine down by normal stopping procedures (depress STOP
button, open switch, close valve, etc)
4. Deactivate the energy isolating device(s) so the machine is isolated from
the energy source(s)
5. Lock out the energy isolating device(s) with assigned individual locks
6. Stored or residual energy (such as that in capacitors, springs, rotating
flywheels, hydraulic systems, and air, gas, steam or water pressure, etc.)
must be dissipated or restrained by methods such as grounding,
repositioning, blocking, bleeding down, etc
7. Ensure the equipment is disconnected from the energy source(s) by first checking that no personnel
are exposed. Then verify the isolation of the equipment by operating the push buttons or other normal
operating controls or by testing to make sure the equipment will not operate
8. The machine or equipment is now locked out.