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title: "Lockout Tagout Procedures Construction | AVANORTH"
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"og:title": "Lockout Tagout Procedures Construction"
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AVANORTH Home
**Safety**·May 27, 2026· 4 min read
# **Lockout/Tagout Procedures for Construction Equipment**
Lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures protect workers from the unexpected release of hazardous energy during maintenance and repair. Proper LOTO prevents electrocution, crushing, burns, and other serious injuries.
**AVANORTH Team**
AVANORTH Construction
Every year, workers are killed or seriously injured because equipment or machines are unexpectedly started, energized, or release stored energy during maintenance, servicing, or repair. Lockout/tagout is a systematic procedure that ensures hazardous energy sources are isolated and controlled before any work is performed on equipment. In Ontario, lockout/tagout is required by Regulation 851 (Industrial) and Regulation 213/91 (Construction Projects) under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
---
## Types of Hazardous Energy
| Energy Type | Sources on Construction Sites | Potential Hazard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Electrical | Power tools, temporary power panels, permanent building wiring, generators | Electrocution, arc flash, burns |
| Mechanical | Rotating equipment (saw blades, drill presses, augers), conveyor belts, hoists | Amputation, entanglement, crushing |
| Hydraulic | Excavator arms, lifts, hydraulic presses, hydraulic tools | Crushing, high-pressure injection injuries |
| Pneumatic | Compressed air systems, pneumatic nail guns, pneumatic tools | Projectile hazard, noise, entanglement |
| Gravitational (stored) | Elevated platforms, suspended loads, raised excavator buckets | Falling objects, crushing |
| Thermal | Hot pipes, welding equipment, steam lines, heated material | Burns |
| Chemical | Pressurized gas cylinders, chemical lines, fuel systems | Explosion, toxic exposure, fire |
---
## The LOTO Procedure
### Step-by-Step
1. **Notify:** Inform all affected workers that a lockout/tagout is being performed and why. Workers who operate the equipment or work in the area must know that the equipment will be de-energized.
2. **Identify all energy sources:** Review the equipment documentation and physically inspect the equipment to identify every energy source (there may be multiple). Include stored energy (springs, raised components, pressurized systems).
3. **Shut down:** Shut down the equipment using the normal stopping procedure. Do not simply pull the plug or trip the breaker during operation.
4. **Isolate:** Isolate each energy source. This means disconnecting the power supply, closing valves, blocking raised components, bleeding pressure, etc. Each isolation point is a lockout point.
5. **Lock and tag:** Apply a personal lock and tag at each isolation point. Each worker performing maintenance applies their own lock. The lock must be a standardized lockout lock (not a combination lock or a lock used for any other purpose). The tag identifies the worker, date, time, and reason for lockout.
6. **Verify de-energization:** _This is the most critical step._ Attempt to start the equipment or activate the energy source. If it does not start, the lockout is verified. Also test with appropriate instruments (voltage tester for electrical, pressure gauge for hydraulic/pneumatic).
7. **Perform the work:** With all energy sources isolated, locked, and verified, the work can proceed safely.
8. **Remove locks:** When work is complete, each worker removes only their own lock. The last lock removed re-energizes the equipment. Before restarting, ensure all workers are clear and all guards are in place.
---
## Multi-Worker Lockout (Group LOTO)
When multiple workers are servicing the same equipment:
| Method | How It Works |
| --- | --- |
| Lock box / hasp | All energy isolation locks are placed in a lock box. Each worker places their personal lock on the lock box. Equipment cannot be re-energized until every worker has removed their lock. |
| Authorized person | A designated authorized person applies the primary lockout. Each worker secures a personal lock on a multi-lock hasp at each isolation point. |
> **Golden Rule:** Never ask or allow another worker to remove your lock. Never remove another worker's lock. If a worker leaves the site with their lock on, contact the worker directly. Only as a last resort, with documented authorization from a competent person who has verified the equipment is safe, may a lock be removed by someone other than the person who applied it.
---
## Common LOTO Failures
| Failure | Consequence | Prevention |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Skipping LOTO for "quick jobs" | Unexpected energization during brief maintenance | LOTO is required regardless of job duration. A 30-second task can result in a fatal injury. |
| Not verifying de-energization | Equipment may have multiple energy sources; one may not be isolated | Always attempt to start the equipment and test with instruments |
| Using tags without locks | Tags can be ignored or removed; they provide no physical barrier | Tags supplement locks but do not replace them |
| Not isolating stored energy | Pressurized systems, raised components, or springs release unexpectedly | Bleed pressure, lower/block raised components, release spring tension |
> **AVANORTH LOTO:** Lockout/tagout is non-negotiable on every AVANORTH project. Our supervisors are trained in LOTO procedures for all equipment types. We provide standardized lockout kits (locks, tags, hasps) to every crew. We conduct LOTO training during site orientation and include LOTO scenarios in our toolbox talks. Any worker who bypasses LOTO faces immediate removal from the site. This is a life-or-death procedure.
#lockout-tagout #equipment-safety #hazardous-energy
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