Record eight lockout tagout fields in the daily site safety log, covering placement, stored energy, removal, and re-energization.
Key takeaways for how to record lockout tagout procedures for daily site safety records
- Record both a lock and a tag on every disconnecting means used to deenergize circuits, noting any exceptions permitted by the specific subsection, as required by Washington State Legislature.
- Document the release of stored electric energy that might endanger personnel, a mandatory step outlined in Washington State Legislature regulations.
- Log the specific duties of the authorized person, who must identify the machine, energy sources present, and the lockout device used, according to CCOHS.
- Note the removal order for lockout devices, which must be the opposite of the installation order before re-energizing the system, according to CCOHS.
- Follow the requirements in the exact order presented, starting with the first subsection and proceeding sequentially, as mandated by Washington State Legislature.
How to record lockout tagout procedures for daily site safety records
Your daily site safety record must capture the exact order of operations for equipment repair. The Washington State Legislature specifies that you must follow the requirements in the order in which they are presented, meaning (a) of the subsection comes first, then (b), according to Washington State Legislature.
Do not rearrange the steps in your log to fit a preferred workflow. The source explicitly ties the compliance to the presentation order of the requirements. You must keep the claim tied to this named source and not treat one jurisdiction's rule as the rule everywhere. The scope of this requirement is specific to the order of the subsections as written in the regulation.
For your daily record, identify the first step as defined by the source's subsection (a). Then, record the second step as defined by subsection (b). This ensures your documentation mirrors the regulatory structure. The Washington State Legislature does not provide an alternative ordering for these specific requirements. Your log should show the progression from the first listed requirement to the second. This approach keeps your daily site safety records aligned with the cited standard.
Use the Construction Daily Log Checklist for Supervisors, then lock out the circuit before repair and new worker safety instruction.
A filled reference table of lockout tagout requirements by publisher
The table below lists the 8 recording steps required for your daily site safety records, mapped to the specific rules stated by the Washington State Legislature and CCOHS. Each row identifies the publisher and the exact requirement they define.
| Publisher | Requirement | Source Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Washington State Legislature | Procedure sequence | You must follow the requirements in the order in which they are presented, (a) of this subsection first, then (b) of this subsection. |
| Washington State Legislature | Stored energy release | "(iii) You must release stored electric energy which might endanger personnel." |
| Washington State Legislature | Lock placement | "(i) You must place a lock and a tag on each disconnecting means used to deenergize circuits and equipment on which work is to be performed, except as provided in (c)(iii) and (v) of this subsection." |
| Washington State Legislature | Tag placement | "(i) You must place a lock and a tag on each disconnecting means used to deenergize circuits and equipment on which work is to be performed, except as provided in (c)(iii) and (v) of this subsection." |
| CCOHS | Energy source identification | "The authorized person will identify the machine, equipment, or process that requires lockout, which sources of energy are present and must be controlled, and what lockout device will be used." |
| CCOHS | Device removal order | "Remove devices in the opposite order in which they were installed and re-energize the system." |
| CCOHS | Re-energization process | "Remove devices in the opposite order in which they were installed and re-energize the system." |
| CCOHS | Authorized person duties | "The authorized person will identify the machine, equipment, or process that requires lockout, which sources of energy are present and must be controlled, and what lockout device will be used." |
Step-by-step: recording lockout tagout in your daily log
Record the eight required fields in your daily site safety log for the job.
Removal and re-energization entries can note actions you will take after the repair.
- Procedure sequence: Note the specific sequence of actions taken for the lockout procedure in your log.
- Lock placement: Note that you must place a lock on each disconnecting means used to deenergize circuits and equipment on which work is to be performed, except as provided in (c)(iii) and (v) of this subsection, according to Washington State Legislature.
- Tag placement: Note that you must place a tag on each disconnecting means used to deenergize circuits and equipment on which work is to be performed, except as provided in (c)(iii) and (v) of this subsection, according to Washington State Legislature.
- Energy source identification: Record that the authorized person will identify the machine, equipment, or process that requires lockout, which sources of energy are present and must be controlled, and what lockout device will be used, according to CCOHS.
- Stored energy release: Document that you must release stored electric energy which might endanger personnel, according to Washington State Legislature.
- Device removal order: Log that you will remove devices in the opposite order in which they were installed, according to CCOHS.
- Re-energization process: Record that you will re-energize the system, according to CCOHS.
- Authorized person duties: Record the specific duties performed by the authorized person as defined in your site plan.
Why sequence matters in lockout tagout documentation
Order is not a stylistic choice when you follow subsection (a) before subsection (b). Washington State Legislature states that you must follow the requirements in the order in which they are presented, specifically executing subsection (a) before subsection (b) ( Washington State Legislature). This rule applies to the procedure sequence itself. For your daily site safety records, this means the columns must reflect the chronological execution of the control steps, not just the final state of the equipment.
The risk of ignoring this sequence is unintended start-up. CCOHS defines this as the unintended start-up or motion of machinery, equipment, or processes ( CCOHS). When you document the procedure, you are creating a trail that proves the sequence was followed to prevent this specific hazard. If the sequence is broken, the protection against unintended motion is compromised. Your record must show that each step was completed in the required order to demonstrate that the machinery was secured before work began.
Washington State Legislature’s rule on order is specific to its jurisdiction. CCOHS’s definition of unintended start-up is a general safety concept. Your daily log should reflect the specific regulatory order applicable to your site while using the definition of the hazard to justify why that order is critical.
Common mistakes when logging lockout tagout actions
Supervisors often overlook the strict ownership of lockout devices when documenting the end of a repair task. A frequent error is allowing a different worker to remove a lock that was not installed by them. CCOHS states that locks can only be removed by those who installed them and should only be removed using a specific process. Your daily record must reflect that the individual removing the lock is the same person who placed it, following the specific removal process outlined in your site procedure.
Another common mistake is assuming that minor adjustments during normal production do not require any documentation. California Department of Industrial Relations notes that minor tool changes and adjustments, and other minor servicing activities, which take place during normal production operations are not covered by the requirements of Section 3314 if they are routine, repetitive, and integral to the use of the equipment or machinery for production, provided that the work is performed using alternative measures which provide effective protection. If your crew performs these routine tasks, your log must record the specific alternative measures used to ensure effective protection, rather than leaving the entry blank.
Crew-level work presents a distinct documentation challenge. When a group performs maintenance, individual personal locks may not be the sole method of control. California Department of Industrial Relations requires that when servicing and/or maintenance is performed by a crew, craft, department or other group, they shall utilize a procedure which affords the employees a level of protection equivalent to that provided by the utilization of a personal lockout or tagout device. A mistake in your records is failing to document this equivalent protection procedure for group work, leaving auditors unable to verify that the crew was protected to the same standard as individual lockout.
Finally, contractors often misclassify the scope of servicing activities. California Department of Industrial Relations clarifies that for the purposes of this Section, cleaning, repairing, servicing and adjusting activities shall include unjamming prime movers, machinery and equipment. If your log omits unjamming tasks because they seem minor, you are missing a required scope of activity. Ensure your daily site safety records explicitly include unjamming as a servicing activity that requires documented energy control.
Illustrative example: one row for one repair
A log row can hold eight fields for one repair on one machine. It notes one lock, one tag, one energy source, one lockout device, and one release of stored electric energy. It notes that subsection (a) was followed before subsection (b). After repair, it notes removal in the opposite order and one re-energization by the same person who placed the lock.
Loops and tabs in the daily record
When filling out the Authorized Person Duties column, note that the authorized person will identify the machine, equipment, or process that requires lockout, which sources of energy are present and must be controlled, and what lockout device will be used, according to CCOHS. This specific identification process is a core part of the duties you must record in that final column.
For the Lock Placement and Tag Placement columns, remember that in most cases, these devices will have loops or tabs which can be locked to a stationary item in a safe position (de-energized position), according to CCOHS. Record the exact location of these loops or tabs in your log to maintain a clear audit trail.
Review your current daily site safety record and add columns for lock placement, tag placement, energy source identification, stored energy release, device removal order, re-energization process, procedure sequence, and authorized person duties.
FAQ: how to record lockout tagout procedures for daily site safety records
What is the first step in recording a lockout tagout procedure?
Begin your daily record by following the requirements in the order presented, starting with subsection (a) of the regulation. This sequencing ensures your log mirrors the regulatory structure from the outset.
Must I record both lock and tag placement for each disconnecting means?
Yes, except as provided in (c)(iii) and (v) of this subsection, your record must show that both a lock and a tag were placed on each disconnecting means. The rule requires this dual placement for circuits and equipment on which work is to be performed, aside from those exceptions.
How do I document the release of stored energy in my site record?
Record the specific action taken to release stored electric energy that might endanger personnel. This entry confirms that residual energy hazards were addressed before work began.
In what order should I log the removal of lockout devices?
Log the removal of devices in the opposite order in which they were installed. This reverse sequence is a specific requirement for the re-energization process.
Who is responsible for identifying energy sources in the lockout tagout procedure?
The authorized person is responsible for identifying the machine, equipment, or process that requires lockout. This individual also identifies which sources of energy are present and must be controlled.