A construction site has electrical equipment that will be serviced. Who is authorized to remove lockout/tagout devices?
Correct Answer
C) Only the employee who applied the device
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.417 requires that lockout/tagout devices be removed only by the employee who applied them. Limited exceptions exist for specific procedures when the original employee is unavailable.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.417 is explicit: only the employee who applied the lockout/tagout device may remove it. This 'one person, one lock' principle ensures the person who knows the hazard state of the equipment is the one who clears it. Exceptions require a specific documented procedure (e.g., if that employee has left the site) and must be authorized by a supervisor after verifying the original employee is not on-site and it is safe to remove.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: Any qualified electrician
A qualified electrician does not have the authority to remove another employee's LOTO device simply by virtue of their trade certification. Electrical qualification is separate from LOTO authorization. Only the person who applied the device knows exactly what work they were doing and whether it is complete.
Option B: The site supervisor
The site supervisor may oversee safety, but OSHA does not grant supervisors blanket authority to remove another worker's lockout/tagout device. A supervisor can only authorize removal under a specific documented exception procedure, not as a general rule.
Option D: The safety officer
The safety officer's role is to oversee and enforce safety programs, not to remove individual LOTO devices. Like the supervisor, a safety officer would only be involved in the rare documented exception procedure, not routine removal.
Memory Technique
Think: 'My lock, my life.' LOTO is personal protection. If you applied it, only you remove it. The device is essentially a physical signature saying 'I am still working on this equipment.'
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