Subp. 1. Electrical power disconnect. Any main electrical power disconnect means which controls a source of power or material flow shall be locked out with a lockout device whenever employees are maintaining, cleaning, adjusting, or servicing machinery or equipment, if the disconnect is not in clear sight of the employee.

Some basic steps are common to all lockout/tagout procedures, though you will need to get more specific for your individual situation. OSHA requires you to have a lockout/tagout process.

Why is Lockout/Tagout Important?
The OSHA standard for The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout), 29 CFR 1910.147, addresses safety procedures used in the workplace to ensure that dangerous machines are properly shut off and not able to be started up again prior to the completion of maintenance or servicing work.

Too many times, employees on a job site are injured or killed because they thought a machine was off, or the power to the machine was safely turned off when it wasn`t. Lock out tag out training is the best measure you can take to prevent these types of accidents from happening on the job site.

Does the lockout procedure have to be in writing?
In general, yes. OSHA says you have to document your lockout/tagout procedures. This makes sense because they`re instructions the mechanics have to follow when they do repairs.