How should a lockout/tagout procedure be managed during service?

The correct approach to managing a lockout/tagout procedure during service is to have only one key held by the technician performing the work. This practice is essential for ensuring safety by maintaining control over the equipment that is being serviced. When the technician has exclusive access to the key, it minimizes the risk of accidental reactivation of the machinery while they are working on it.

When there is a single key, it ensures that only authorized personnel, specifically the individual who is responsible for that particular service task, can unlock and remove the lockout device. This promotes accountability, as the technician knows they are the only one who can access the equipment while it is in a locked-out state.

Maintaining only one key during service helps reinforce the importance of following safety protocols and increases the likelihood that procedures will be adhered to correctly. This approach also reduces the potential for confusion among multiple technicians who may be on-site, each holding keys that could compromise the lockout/tagout integrity.