Online Course · Energy Control Procedures
Lockout Tagout Training for Authorized Workers Who Service Equipment
Authorized employees put their own bodies inside machines. This lockout tagout training for authorized employees covers how to find every energy source, isolate it, prove it is gone and safely bring the equipment back.
Built for the People Who Apply the Locks
Under 29 CFR 1910.147, an authorized employee is the person who locks or tags out a machine to perform servicing or maintenance. The standard expects these workers to be trained in recognizing applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of energy in the workplace, and the methods and means needed to isolate and control it. That is a much deeper requirement than the awareness training given to operators.
This course is aimed at maintenance mechanics, electricians, millwrights, set-up technicians, and production employees who clear jams or change tooling under a lockout. Operators who only need to recognize and respect locks should take the shorter lockout tagout awareness course.
The Lockout Sequence the Course Teaches
Learners work through the standard sequence in order, with examples from conveyors, presses, pumps and packaging equipment:
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Prepare and notify
Review the machine-specific procedure, identify every energy source and notify affected employees that servicing is about to begin.
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Shut down and isolate
Stop the equipment using normal controls, then operate the energy-isolating devices — disconnects, valves, blocks — to separate it from every source.
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Apply locks and tags
Each authorized employee attaches a personal lock, with an identifying tag, to each isolation point.
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Release stored energy
Bleed pressure, discharge capacitors, block raised parts, relieve springs and let moving parts stop; monitor if energy could re-accumulate.
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Verify isolation
Clear people from the area, attempt a normal start and test where appropriate to prove a zero energy state, then return controls to off.
Beyond the Basics: Real-World Lockout Situations
Simple single-source lockouts are only part of an authorized worker's day. The course spends time on the situations that cause confusion and injuries.
Group lockout
When a crew services a large system, one authorized employee may hold primary responsibility while each worker attaches a personal lock to a group lockbox. Learners see how this keeps every person in control of their own protection.
Shift and personnel changes
Procedures must ensure continuity of protection when work runs across shifts — locks transfer in an orderly way so equipment is never left unprotected.
Testing and positioning
When equipment must be temporarily energized for testing, a strict sequence applies: clear tools, remove people, remove locks, energize and test, then deenergize and reapply controls before work continues.
Release from lockout
Before removing locks, the worker checks that tools are removed, guards are reinstalled, employees are clear and affected employees are told the machine is about to restart.
Energy Types and Typical Control Methods
| Energy source | Common example | Isolation or control |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical | Motor drives, control circuits | Lock the disconnect; test for absence of voltage where qualified |
| Hydraulic and pneumatic | Presses, clamps, cylinders | Close and lock valves; bleed lines and accumulators |
| Mechanical and gravity | Flywheels, raised rams, suspended loads | Allow to stop; block, pin or lower to rest |
| Thermal and chemical | Steam lines, process piping | Close, lock and bleed; blank or blind lines; allow cooling |
Program Requirements Your Course Supports
Employers must have documented, machine-specific energy control procedures and must conduct a periodic inspection of each procedure at least annually, including a review with the authorized employees who use it. Retraining is required when there is a change in job assignment, machines, energy hazards or procedures, or when an inspection reveals deviations. The online course gives your authorized workers the shared foundation; hands-on practice with your own procedures and hardware completes their qualification.
Authorized Employee LOTO FAQs
Does this course make someone an authorized employee?
The employer designates authorized employees after they are trained in your energy control program and machine-specific procedures. This course provides the general knowledge; site-specific training completes it.
Can one lock protect a whole crew?
Not on its own. Under group lockout, each worker must be protected by a personal lock or an equivalent system that gives them the same level of control.
What about electrical work on energized parts?
Electrical work has additional qualified-person requirements. Start with electrical safety general awareness and confirm what your electricians need.