What are standard practices for lockout/tagout (LOTO) when working on electric equipment?

• A. De-energize, apply lock, place warning tag, and verify zero energy before work.
• B. Shut off and proceed without lock.
• C. Only apply tag; no lock required.
• D. De-energize and test after starting work.

Answer: (A)

Lockout/tagout centers on isolating electrical energy so it cannot re-energize while you work. The standard practice is to de-energize the equipment, apply a lock to the energy‑isolating device, place a warning tag identifying who is working and why, and verify that all energy sources are at zero energy before you start. De-energizing removes the energy source, the lock provides a physical barrier that prevents others from re-energizing the equipment, and the tag warns others not to operate the equipment and notes who is in control. Verifying zero energy ensures there’s no residual or stored energy (like capacitors or springs) that could cause harm once you begin work. Only after this confirmation do you proceed, and the lock is removed only by the person who performed the work when it is safe to re-energize. Approaches that skip the lock, rely on a tag alone, or start work after turning off energy are unsafe because they don’t reliably prevent re-energization or protect against stored energy.