Industrial Maintenance Technician how-to
How to Lock Out and Tag Out a Machine
Lockout/tagout prevents machines from starting or releasing stored energy while you work. Follow your company’s written energy-control procedure.
Lockout/tagout prevents machines from starting or releasing stored energy while you work. Follow your company’s written energy-control procedure. In short: notify; identify; shut, then complete the remaining steps below.
Step by step
Notify affected employees that the machine will be shut down and locked out.
Identify all energy sources: electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, gravity and thermal.
Shut the machine down using normal stopping procedures.
Isolate each energy source at its disconnect or valve.
Apply your personal lock and tag to each isolation point.
Release or block stored energy: bleed pressure, block raised parts, discharge capacitors.
Verify zero energy by attempting to start the machine and testing, then return controls to off.
Safety reminders for industrial maintenance technicians
- Always lock out and verify zero energy before reaching into machinery
- Keep guards in place and replace them after maintenance
- Use NFPA 70E practices when working on electrical equipment
- Wear hearing and eye protection on the plant floor
Key terms
Preventive maintenance (PM) · Predictive maintenance · PLC · Ladder logic · VFD · Hydraulics: see the full industrial maintenance technician glossary.