In chemical safety, what is a “lockout/tagout” procedure?

The concept of "lockout/tagout" procedures is crucial for ensuring safety during maintenance or servicing of machinery and equipment that could pose risks if inadvertently activated. This procedure involves both physical and visual safety measures that prevent machinery from being powered up while someone is performing maintenance.

Lockout refers to the process of physically securing the energy source of the equipment with a lock, ensuring that no one can operate it while repairs or maintenance are ongoing. Tagout complements this by using a tag that advises others not to operate the equipment, indicating that maintenance work is in progress. These actions are designed to protect workers from potential accidents that can occur due to unexpected machine startup or release of hazardous energy.

While inventorying chemicals, cleaning spills, and labeling hazardous materials are all important aspects of chemical safety, they do not relate to the specific actions outlined in a lockout/tagout procedure. Each of the other options addresses different safety protocols but does not encompass the critical workplace safety measures associated with controlling hazardous energy during maintenance.