In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the primary government entity responsible for establishing the requirements for Lockout/Tagout procedures. OSHA, an agency under the U.S. Department of Labor, was created in 1970 with the primary mission of ensuring safe and healthy working conditions. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA Act), OSHA has the authority to develop and enforce workplace safety and health standards.

Specifically, OSHA’s standard 29 CFR 1910.147 — The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) outlines the requirements for LOTO. This standard applies to the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment in which the unexpected energization or release of stored energy could cause injury to employees. OSHA’s standard aims to protect workers from hazardous energy during service and maintenance activities. Loto Steps OSHA

Under the 29 CFR 1910.147 standard, employers must establish and implement an energy control program to ensure that machines and equipment are isolated from energy sources and rendered inoperative before any servicing or maintenance work is performed. Key requirements include:

Use of Lockout and Tagout Devices: Approved lockout devices (locks) and tagout devices (tags) must be used to prevent accidental startup. Employee Training: All employees involved in LOTO procedures must be trained to understand and correctly perform the procedures. Periodic Inspections: Employers must conduct periodic inspections of the energy control procedures to ensure their effectiveness and compliance. Other Relevant Government Entities While OSHA is the primary agency responsible for LOTO requirements in the United States, other countries have similar government entities that establish related regulations. For example:

2.1 Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) In Canada, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) is responsible for developing standards for workplace safety and health. Similar to OSHA, CCOHS has regulations regarding LOTO procedures to ensure the safety of workers during the maintenance and servicing of equipment.

2.2 European Occupational Safety and Health Agencies In Europe, various countries have their own occupational safety and health agencies that establish LOTO requirements. For example, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the United Kingdom is responsible for developing and enforcing workplace safety regulations.