What is the role of a lockout/tagout procedure?

The role of a lockout/tagout procedure is primarily focused on ensuring safety during maintenance work on equipment. This procedure involves shutting down equipment and controlling hazardous energy sources before maintenance can be performed. By applying locks and tags, workers can ensure that no one will mistakenly start the equipment while someone is working on it. This provides a critical layer of protection against potential accidents, injuries, or fatalities that could occur if machinery were to be inadvertently energized.

While enhancing the efficiency of operations, increasing power supply reliability, and reducing maintenance costs are desirable outcomes in many operational contexts, they are not the primary purpose of lockout/tagout procedures. The main goal is safety during maintenance and repair activities, making it paramount in environments where machine operation poses significant hazards to personnel.