What is the purpose of lockout tags during maintenance?

• A. Tags replace the need for energy isolation.
• B. Tags communicate that the energy source is isolated and must not be energized.
• C. Tags are decorative and have no safety function.
• D. Tags allow re-energizing without permission.

Answer: (B)

Lockout tags provide a clear safety signal that a machine’s energy source has been isolated and must not be energized while maintenance is underway. They’re part of a system that often includes a physical lock, which prevents the equipment from being turned back on, while the tag gives essential information about who is performing the work and when it should be completed. This combination helps prevent accidental re-energizing and protects workers from injury. The tags themselves do not physically isolate energy, they are not decorative, and they do not authorize energizing without following the proper lockout/tagout procedures.