Consider recording lockout tagout preparation in your daily site log, followed by testing, warnings and visual clearance checks before restoring power.
What to record for lockout tagout compliance
The federal rule for lockout and tagging of circuits appears at 29 CFR § 1926.417, according to Legal Information Institute.
Key Takeaways
- Record the definition of lockout as a control method in your log.
- Identify the authorized person responsible for the procedure.
- Document the gathering of lockout devices and equipment.
- Note the steps taken to block stored nonelectrical energy.
- Log additional safety measures and employee familiarity with the procedure.
- Record the pre-energization test and re-energization warning.
- Document the visual clearance check before equipment restarts.
Use the nine definitions and procedure entries, excluding the citation row, as references; record actions actually taken during preparation and before restoring power, since copying text alone does not document checks or establish compliance.
A filled reference table of lockout tagout facts
The following table offers ten suggested reference items for hazardous energy control: a federal rule reference, two definitions and seven procedure entries. The citation row provides a rule reference, while the nine remaining rows cover definitions and procedure details. Use this table to verify that your daily site log captures every distinct rule stated by the named publishers.
| Publisher | Rule or Definition | Source Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Information Institute | Federal rule citation for 29 CFR § 1926.417 | Reference for lockout and tagging of circuits |
| CCOHS | Lockout definition | "Lockout is one way to control hazardous energy." |
| CCOHS | Authorized person role | "Authorized person - a person who is qualified to engage in hazardous energy control because of knowledge, training, and experience and has been assigned to engage in such control." |
| CCOHS | Equipment gathering | Gather all required equipment, including lockout devices and tags. |
| Washington State Legislature | Stored energy blocking | "(iv) You must block or relieve stored nonelectrical energy in devices that could reenergize electric circuit parts to the extent that the circuit parts could not be accidentally energized by the device." |
| Washington State Legislature | Additional safety measures | "Examples of additional safety measures include the removal of an isolating circuit element, blocking of a controlling switch, or opening of an extra disconnecting device." |
| Washington State Legislature | Employee familiarity | "(C) Employees exposed to the hazards associated with reenergizing the circuit or equipment are familiar with this procedure." |
| Washington State Legislature | Pre-energization test | "(i) A qualified person must conduct tests and visual inspections, as necessary, to verify that all tools, electrical jumpers, shorts, grounds, and other such devices have been removed, so that the circuits and equipment can be safely energized." |
| Washington State Legislature | Re-energization warning | "(ii) You must warn employees exposed to the hazards associated with reenergizing the circuit or equipment to stay clear of circuits and equipment." |
| Washington State Legislature | Visual clearance check | "(iv) There must be a visual determination that all employees are clear of the circuits and equipment." |
According to Legal Information Institute, the federal rule citation is recorded in the first row. According to CCOHS, the definition of lockout and the authorized person role are documented in rows two and three. According to CCOHS, the requirement to gather equipment is listed in row four. According to Washington State Legislature, the rules for blocking stored energy and additional safety measures appear in rows five and six. According to Washington State Legislature, the requirements for employee familiarity, pre-energization testing, re-energization warnings, and visual clearance checks appear in rows seven through ten.
Defining the authorized person and lockout
Lockout is one way to control hazardous energy, according to CCOHS. Consider noting lockout as the hazardous energy control method in your site log when it is used. When you record this step in your daily records, you are noting the specific mechanism used to isolate the energy source. CCOHS describes lockout as one way to control hazardous energy.
The role of the authorized person is strictly defined by qualification and assignment. An authorized person is a person who is qualified to engage in hazardous energy control because of knowledge, training, and experience and has been assigned to engage in such control, according to CCOHS. This definition requires two distinct elements: inherent qualification through knowledge, training, and experience, and a formal assignment to perform the control. Your site log should reflect that the individual performing the lockout meets both criteria. Simply being on-site or having a general safety certification does not satisfy the definition provided by the source. The individual must possess the specific knowledge and experience relevant to the hazardous energy control task and must have been formally assigned to that duty.
When documenting this in your daily site log, you should verify the assignment status of the individual performing the lockout. An authorized person must be assigned to engage in hazardous energy control as well as qualified through knowledge, training and experience. This is not merely a matter of capability but of official responsibility. A qualified worker who has not been assigned to engage in hazardous energy control does not meet the definition of an authorized person. Your record should clearly state who was assigned to perform the lockout and confirm that this person possessed the necessary knowledge, training, and experience.
The distinction between being qualified and being assigned is critical for compliance documentation. For workers trained in lockout procedures, authorization requires both qualification through knowledge, training and experience and assignment to engage in hazardous energy control. This assignment should be part of the pre-task planning and recorded in the site log. By documenting the assignment, you create a clear audit trail that shows the person performing the lockout was not only capable but also officially responsible for the task. This aligns with the CCOHS definition, which ties the role directly to the act of engaging in hazardous energy control.
Gathering equipment and blocking stored energy
Before any repair work begins, the crew must secure the physical tools needed to isolate the machine. CCOHS describes this preparation phase as gathering all required equipment, which includes lockout devices and tags. CCOHS specifies that these items are part of the standard procedure for controlling hazardous energy. When you write this step in your daily site log, record the specific types of devices the crew collected. For example, if the team used padlocks and safety tags, note those exact items. This documentation proves that the necessary hardware was present and accounted for before the isolation process started.
Once the physical devices are in hand, the next critical action involves managing energy that is not electrical. Washington State Legislature rules state that you must block or relieve stored nonelectrical energy in devices that could reenergize electric circuit parts. The goal is to ensure the circuit parts could not be accidentally energized by the device. Washington State Legislature defines this requirement clearly in its regulations. Devices containing stored nonelectrical energy that could reenergize electric circuit parts must have that energy blocked or relieved to prevent accidental energization. Therefore, the procedure requires active management of this stored force.
In your site log, this step requires a specific entry confirming that stored energy was addressed. You should note whether the energy was blocked or relieved. For instance, if a hydraulic system was depressurized, record that action. If a spring-loaded mechanism was secured, document that blocking action. The key is to verify that the energy source could no longer reenergize the circuit. This aligns with the rule that the circuit parts must be protected from accidental energization. By documenting this specific action, you create a clear record that the non-electrical energy hazard was controlled.
It is important to distinguish between electrical and nonelectrical energy sources. These forces can persist even after the main power is cut. For example, a flywheel might still be spinning, or a valve might still be open. These conditions represent a risk to the worker performing the repair. The regulation cited by Washington State Legislature emphasizes the need to prevent accidental energization through these means. Your log entry should reflect the specific method used to mitigate this risk.
Implementing additional safety measures
Beyond the primary lockout procedure, the daily site log should document any extra physical steps taken to isolate energy. According to Washington State Legislature, examples of additional safety measures include the removal of an isolating circuit element, blocking of a controlling switch, or opening of an extra disconnecting device. When your crew performs one of these actions, record the specific measure used in the hazardous energy control section of your log. For instance, if a technician physically removes a fuse from a panel to prevent accidental re-energization, note that the isolating circuit element was removed. If a supervisor places a mechanical block on a switch handle to prevent it from being thrown, record that the controlling switch was blocked. If a worker opens a secondary disconnecting device that is not part of the primary lockout chain, note that the extra disconnecting device was opened. These entries provide a clear record of the specific physical barriers or removals that complement the standard lockout procedure.
Consider recording whether employees exposed to re-energization hazards are familiar with the procedure. According to Washington State Legislature, employees exposed to the hazards associated with reenergizing the circuit or equipment are familiar with this procedure. Employees exposed to hazards associated with reenergizing the circuit or equipment must be familiar with the procedure. Document this familiarity check in your site log by noting that the employees present have been briefed on the re-energization procedure. This entry serves as a record that the crew is aware of the hazards they face when power is restored. If a new subcontractor joins the crew after the initial briefing, consider recording their briefing on the procedure before exposure to re-energization hazards.
Use the exact terminology from the regulation in your log entries. Write "removal of an isolating circuit element" rather than informal phrases like "pulled the fuse." This consistency helps ensure that your records are easily understood by inspectors and other safety professionals. Also, ensure that the employee familiarity check is documented for every individual exposed to the hazards. If a worker is not familiar with the procedure, they should not be in the area when the circuit is re-energized. Your log should reflect this by noting which employees were present and confirmed as familiar with the procedure. This careful documentation protects your crew and provides a clear record of your compliance efforts.
Verifying clearance before re-energizing
Before you restore power to a circuit or piece of equipment, the final phase of the lockout procedure requires strict verification. This step protects the crew from unexpected energy release and ensures the work area is safe for everyone. According to Washington State Legislature, a qualified person must conduct tests and visual inspections, as necessary, to verify that all tools, electrical jumpers, shorts, grounds, and other such devices have been removed, so that the circuits and equipment can be safely energized. This specific test is critical because leftover tools or temporary connections can cause short circuits or damage when power returns. Consider recording the qualified person's verification that tools, electrical jumpers, shorts, grounds and other such devices have been removed.
Once the physical inspection confirms the area is clear of tools and jumpers, you must address the people in the vicinity. According to Washington State Legislature, you must warn employees exposed to the hazards associated with reenergizing the circuit or equipment to stay clear of circuits and equipment. This warning is a mandatory communication step. It is not enough to simply flip a switch; you must actively inform the crew that the energy source is about to be restored. In your site records, document that this warning was issued to all personnel in the immediate work zone. This ensures that no worker is caught off guard by the sudden return of power or motion.
The final check before you actually re-energize the system is a visual confirmation of personnel safety. According to Washington State Legislature, there must be a visual determination that all employees are clear of the circuits and equipment. This is a distinct step from the warning. The warning directs employees to stay clear, while the visual determination confirms that all employees are clear of the circuits and equipment. You must look at the work area and verify that no one is touching the equipment or standing in a position where they could be injured by the re-energization. Record this visual check in your log, confirming that all personnel were observed to be at a safe distance before the power was restored.
Related guides
FAQ: How to record hazardous energy control steps in the daily site log
Who is considered an authorized person for hazardous energy control?
According to CCOHS, an authorized person is qualified to engage in hazardous energy control because of knowledge, training, and experience. This individual must also be specifically assigned to engage in such control.
What specific steps are involved in blocking stored nonelectrical energy?
The Washington State Legislature requires that you block or relieve stored nonelectrical energy in devices that could reenergize electric circuit parts. This action must be taken to the extent that the circuit parts could not be accidentally energized by the device, as stated in WAC 296-155-429.
What must a qualified person do before circuits are safely energized?
A qualified person must conduct tests and visual inspections, as necessary, to verify that all tools, electrical jumpers, shorts, grounds, and other such devices have been removed. This verification is required so that the circuits and equipment can be safely energized, according to WAC 296-155-429.
What visual determination is required before re-energizing equipment?
There must be a visual determination that all employees are clear of the circuits and equipment. This check is a mandatory step before re-energization, as specified by WAC 296-155-429.
What additional safety measures can be used to protect employees?
Examples of additional safety measures include the removal of an isolating circuit element, blocking of a controlling switch, or opening of an extra disconnecting device. These measures are cited as examples in WAC 296-155-429.