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621 Controlling Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)
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Training Lockout/Tagout

There are three types of employees which must receive training: authorized, affected, and other.

Lockout/Tagout Overview

The amount and type of training that each employee receives is based upon the relationship of that employee's job to the machine or equipment being locked or tagged out and upon the degree of knowledge relevant to hazardous energy that the employee must possess.

In addition, employers are required to certify that effective training and retraining has been provided to all employees covered by the standard. The certification must contain each employee's name and dates of training.

Authorized Employees

Authorized employees lockout or tagout equipment and service or maintain the equipment. Required training for authorized employees includes:

  • how to find and recognize hazardous energy sources;
  • how to identify the types and magnitudes of energy used in the workplace; and
  • how to isolate energy sources.

Affected Employees

Affected employees operate equipment serviced under lockout or tagout procedures or work in an area affected by the procedures. An affected employee becomes an authorized employee when the employee performs service or maintenance work on the equipment. Required training for affected employees includes:

  • the purpose of energy-control procedures;
  • how energy-control procedures are applied; and
  • how energy-control procedures will protect them.

Other Employees

Other employees may work around or be near equipment that is under lockout/tagout. They need to receive awareness-level training regarding the Energy Control Program. They need to understand that if they see LOTO devices, they are not to touch them.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

2-2. Which category of employees operates equipment or works in an area covered by the lockout or tagout procedures?