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Lock-out Tag-out Try-out Regulations

Find out about the regulations you need to follow to ensure your people remain safe whilst carrying out essential work on equipment with hazardous energy sources.

Machinery and equipment are essential part of many sites across a range of industries. However, in any workplace where machinery is in regular use, there is a risk of injury to those working with, operating, maintaining, or repairing it.

Lock-out Tag-out Try-out (LOTOTO) is considered best practice and will ensure that you're meeting your legal duties under relevant legislation.


The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

Places general responsibility of employers to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare at work of their employees, including a requirement to provide and maintain safe plant and equipment throughout.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

Require an employer to carry out a risk assessment of activities, introduce safe systems of work, coordinate activities, and provide training where applicable. Equipment isolation requirements are highlighted under the following specific regulations.


Isolation Regulations

The following regulations govern the control of hazardous energy (CHE):

  • BS7671:2008(1011) "Requirements for Electrical Installations. IET Wiring Regulations." 17th Edition
    537.2.2.4: Provision shall be made for securing off-load isolating devices against inadvertent or unauthorised opening
    537.3.1.2: Suitable means shall be provided to prevent electrically powered equipment becoming unintentionally reactivated
  • Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 Regulation 19 (1)
    Requires every employer ensures that, where appropriate, work equipment is provided with suitable means to isolate it from all its sources of energy
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Permits to Work

In many cases a Permit to Work will be required before service or maintenance will be authorised to proceed. This is a written document that will have its own set of instructions which need to be followed. It is good practice to have this permit to hand when performing maintenance.

Keep these documents clean and protected by using an appropriate transparent wallet or holder to store after use for reference.

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