What safety procedure ensures dangerous machines are properly shut off and cannot be started again prior to completion of maintenance or repair work?

• A. Lockout
• B. Lockout/Tagout
• C. Tagout
• D. Machine Shutdown Protocol

Answer: (B)

The essential idea is to avoid any unexpected energizing of equipment by fully isolating it and preventing a restart while maintenance is being done. Lockout/Tagout achieves this by combining two safeguards: lockout, which puts a physical lock on the machine’s energy source (so no one can re-energize it), and tagout, which places a clear warning tag indicating who is working and that the equipment must not be operated. Together, they ensure both a definite, verifiable shutdown and a visible warning to prevent accidental startup until the work is complete.

Lockout alone stops energy but may not communicate the danger or prevent someone from bypassing it. Tagout alone warns but can be ineffective if the tag is ignored or removed. A generic “shutdown protocol” isn’t a standardized, reliable method to prevent reenergization. That’s why the combined lockout/tagout method is the best choice.