Who is responsible for locking and tagging a piece of equipment?

The responsibility for locking and tagging a piece of equipment primarily falls on the person working on it. This practice is a critical part of the control of hazardous energy, commonly referred to as lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures. When individuals are directly involved in the maintenance or repair of equipment, they are in the best position to ensure their own safety by securely locking and tagging the equipment to prevent accidental start-up or release of hazardous energy during their work.

The person working on the equipment is familiar with the risks associated with that specific task and is able to confirm that the equipment has been properly shut down and isolated. By locking and tagging the equipment, they create a safeguard to alert others that maintenance is taking place, thus minimizing the risk of injury.

Other roles, such as an equipment manager, safety officer, or shift supervisor, typically have responsibilities that involve oversight and establishing safety protocols, but the hands-on worker is the one who directly implements the lockout/tagout procedure to ensure their safety while performing maintenance tasks.