What to do if you find a lock or tag on equipment?

Never attempt to cut, pry, or remove another person’s lock or tag. Doing so is a serious safety violation and could cause the equipment to start unexpectedly, leading to severe injury or death.

A lock or tag means the equipment has been isolated for maintenance or servicing. Do not start, stop, test, or change any switch, valve, or control on that equipment.

Look for identification on the lock or tag (e.g., name, employee number, department). If possible, contact the Authorized Employee who applied it. That person is the only one allowed to remove their own lock/tag.

If you cannot locate the owner, immediately report the situation to your supervisor, the LOTO coordinator, or the safety department. They will check LOTO records or try to find the employee.

Even if the equipment appears to be idle or the lock/tag looks old or forgotten, you must never assume it is safe. Only authorized personnel following a written procedure may remove a lock or tag.

When the lock/tag owner is unavailable (e.g., off shift, absent, unreachable) and the equipment must be put back into service, a strict emergency lock removal procedure must be followed. This usually requires:

Verification that the owner is not present in the facility.

A documented attempt to contact the owner.

Authorization from a senior manager or safety officer.

A step‑by‑step check that all personnel are clear of the equipment.

The removal is witnessed and recorded.

Even then, only trained supervisors or designated personnel may perform this.

If you find a lock that appears to be broken, a tag that is illegible, or a lock/tag left for an unusually long time, report it to your supervisor. Do not remove it yourself.