In industrial and manufacturing environments, the safety of workers is paramount. One critical safety practice that has gained widespread adoption is the Lock Out/Tag Out (LOTO) procedure, which ensures that machinery or equipment is properly shut off and cannot be operated until maintenance or repair work is completed. Within this system, lock out tags play a vital role in communicating the status of equipment and protecting workers from accidental harm.
What are Lock Out Tags? Lock out tags are safety labels used in conjunction with lockout devices to warn workers that a particular piece of equipment is undergoing maintenance, repair, or servicing. These tags are prominently displayed near the equipment’s energy control points—such as switches, valves, or circuit breakers—and serve as a visible indicator that the equipment should not be operated. Unlike physical locks, lock out tags do not physically secure equipment; instead, they convey crucial safety information and are a means of communication to alert workers to the equipment’s status.