In every workplace where machinery and equipment are used, ensuring the safety of workers during maintenance or repair is crucial. One of the most effective and widely adopted safety practices in industries like manufacturing, construction, and energy production is the Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedure. LOTO safety is designed to protect workers from unexpected equipment startups, hazardous energy releases, and other dangerous incidents that can occur during maintenance activities.

What is LOTO Safety? Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) safety refers to a set of practices and procedures used to safeguard workers from the release of hazardous energy while they are working on machinery or equipment. This system involves isolating energy sources, locking out energy controls, and tagging equipment with appropriate warning labels to prevent unintended startup or release of energy. The primary objective of LOTO safety is to ensure that workers are protected from potential harm when performing maintenance or repairs. The concept behind LOTO is simple but essential： before any work is done on a machine or equipment, it must be completely de-energized and locked or tagged to prevent it from being accidentally powered on. This procedure applies to all forms of energy sources, including electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, or even gravitational energy.