LOTO Standard FAQs on Scope and Application

Workers performing maintenance on machinery may be exposed to injuries from the unforeseen energization, startup of the machinery, or release of stored energy. OSHA’s Lockout/Tagout standard found at 1910.147, also known as LOTO or the Control of Hazardous Energy, requires the acceptance and implementation of procedures to shut down machinery, isolate it from its energy source, and prevent the release of potentially hazardous energy while maintenance and servicing activities are being completed. This blog helps employers gain clarity with commonly asked questions on the LOTO standard's scope and application to help employers understand who the LOTO standard does and does not apply to and what activities are and are not covered.