“LOTO 101: DON’T TOUCH THAT SWITCH”
What is the PRIMARY purpose of Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)?
A. Increase equipment production
B. Prevent accidental release of hazardous energy during servicing and maintenance
C. Make maintenance work faster
D. Give us somewhere to hang colorful locks
B. Prevent accidental release of hazardous energy during servicing and maintenance
Before shutting down equipment, what must an authorized employee know?
A. Who bought the equipment
B. The type, magnitude, hazards, and control methods of hazardous energy
C. How old the machine is
D. Whether the operator says, “Yeah bro, it’s off.”
B. The type, magnitude, hazards, and control methods of hazardous energy
What is the BEST method for verifying electrical isolation?
A. Look at the indicator light
B. Ask another employee if the power is off
C. Use properly rated test equipment and attempt a normal startup
D. Touch the conductors — absolutely not
C. Use properly rated test equipment and attempt a normal startup
When is tagout WITHOUT a lock allowed?
A. Whenever locks aren't available
B. When the employer provides equivalent protection through additional safety measures
C. When maintenance takes less than one hour
D. When somebody writes “SERIOUSLY, DO NOT TURN ON” on the tag
B. When the employer provides equivalent protection through additional safety measures
What is the PRIMARY purpose of a lock during LOTO?
A. Identify the maintenance department
B. Physically prevent equipment from being energized
C. Let everyone know who has the coolest lock
D. Show that maintenance is scheduled
B. Physically prevent equipment from being energized
What is the correct FIRST action before isolating hazardous energy?
A. Immediately start applying locks
B. Verify zero energy
C. Perform a normal equipment shutdown using established procedures
D. Hit the emergency stop and call it a day
C. Perform a normal equipment shutdown using established procedures
If stored energy can re-accumulate during servicing, what must happen?
A. Nothing — there's already a lock on it
B. Continuously monitor and control the stored energy until the work is complete
C. Turn the equipment on every hour
D. Stare at it suspiciously until maintenance is finished
B. Continuously monitor and control the stored energy until the work is complete
During temporary removal of LOTO devices for testing or positioning, what must happen immediately AFTER testing?
A. Continue working while the equipment is energized
B. Leave it energized because you're almost finished
C. De-energize the equipment and fully reapply the LOTO procedure before continuing work
D. Tell everyone, “Don't touch anything for like five minutes.”
C. De-energize the equipment and fully reapply the LOTO procedure before continuing work
Who is permitted to apply and remove LOTO devices?
A. Anybody wearing a hard hat
B. The supervisor only
C. The authorized employee performing the work
D. Whoever happens to be standing closest to the machine
C. The authorized employee performing the work
Which BEST describes energy isolation?
A. Turning the control switch to OFF
B. Disconnecting every hazardous energy source using approved energy-isolating devices
C. Putting up a warning sign
D. Unplugging whatever cable looks important
B. Disconnecting every hazardous energy source using approved energy-isolating devices
Who may remove a LOTO device?
A. Any supervisor
B. The equipment operator
C. Only the authorized employee who applied it, unless a documented exception procedure is followed
D. Whoever has the biggest pair of bolt cutters
C. Only the authorized employee who applied it, unless a documented exception procedure is followed
When contractors are working on equipment requiring LOTO, what must BOTH employers do?
A. Follow completely separate procedures and hope they match
B. Coordinate and communicate their energy-control procedures to ensure employee protection
C. Let only the contractor worry about LOTO
D. Assume somebody already handled it
B. Coordinate and communicate their energy-control procedures to ensure employee protection
What should an employee who is NOT authorized to perform LOTO do when equipment is locked or tagged?
A. Remove the lock if production gets behind
B. Restart it if the supervisor needs the equipment
C. Never tamper with or attempt to restart the equipment
D. Jiggle the switch just to make sure it's actually off
C. Never tamper with or attempt to restart the equipment
When should isolation be verified?
A. After maintenance is finished
B. Before maintenance begins by confirming a true zero-energy state
C. After the locks have been removed
D. Whenever the Safety Manager walks by
B. Before maintenance begins by confirming a true zero-energy state
What must happen BEFORE LOTO devices are removed?
A. Turn the equipment on immediately
B. Ensure tools are removed, guards are replaced, employees are clear, and affected employees are notified
C. Remove the tag first and figure out the rest later
D. Yell “CLEAR!” from across the jobsite
B. Ensure tools are removed, guards are replaced, employees are clear, and affected employees are notified
During a GROUP Lockout/Tagout operation, which statement is correct?
A. One employee's personal lock protects the entire crew
B. Every authorized employee applies and removes their own personal lock while a primary authorized employee coordinates the process
C. Only the supervisor needs a lock
D. Whoever finishes first can start removing everybody else's locks
B. Every authorized employee applies and removes their own personal lock while a primary authorized employee coordinates the process
What is the PRIMARY objective of the entire LOTO program?
A. Speed up maintenance
B. Prevent equipment damage
C. Prevent injuries and fatalities from the unexpected release of hazardous energy
D. Make the safety department happy
C. Prevent injuries and fatalities from the unexpected release of hazardous energy
If an energy-isolating device can accept a lock, what does the quiz state OSHA requires?
A. A tag only
B. A lockout system must be used
C. Either one — whatever is easier
D. Just write “DO NOT TOUCH” on some duct tape
B. A lockout system must be used
Before restoring power after maintenance, employees must:
A. Restart the machine immediately
B. Ensure everyone is clear of the danger zone and notify affected employees
C. Remove the machine guards
D. Ask, “Everybody good?” and hit START before anyone answers
B. Ensure everyone is clear of the danger zone and notify affected employees
Maintenance is being performed on equipment with electrical energy and stored mechanical energy. The disconnect has been locked out, but nobody has verified zero energy and the stored energy has not been controlled.
What should happen BEFORE work begins?
A. Start working because the disconnect already has a lock
B. Have the operator confirm the machine is off
C. Control the stored energy and verify a true zero-energy state before beginning maintenance
D. Put another tag on it — two tags obviously means twice the safety
C. Control the stored energy and verify a true zero-energy state before beginning maintenance