When multiple workers are involved in maintenance, how should lockout/tagout be applied?

• A. Only one lock is used for the team
• B. No tags are used
• C. Each worker places their own lock and tag
• D. Locks are removed after one hour

Answer: (C)

When several people are working on a machine, each person must place their own lock and tag on the energy isolation point. This gives each worker personal control over the isolation, so the equipment cannot be re-energized until every lock is removed by its owner. A single lock for the team risks someone energizing the machine while others are still working, which is unsafe. Tags alone aren’t enough because they’re just warnings and can be ignored or bypassed; they don’t provide the physical protection that locks do. Locks should not be removed after a fixed time like one hour—the device stays isolated until all workers finish and the safety checks confirm it’s safe to re-energize. So, each worker places their own lock and tag to ensure complete, shared protection.