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CSP practice question: Lockout/tagout: removing another employee's lock
Question of the Day for Thursday, 24 September 2026
CSP · Advanced Application of Safety Principles
At 23:00 a supervisor finds a day-shift mechanic's lock still on a packaging line disconnect; the mechanic's shift ended at 15:00. The plant's energy control program includes a documented, trained procedure for lock removal by others. Security reports that his badge shows an exit at 15:10, but his pickup is still in the parking lot, and his phone goes to voicemail. What should the supervisor do?
Explanation
Section 1910.147(e)(3) lets a device be removed under the employer's direction only through a documented, trained procedure that includes verifying that the authorized employee is not at the facility, making all reasonable efforts to contact him, and ensuring he knows before he resumes work. A truck still in the lot means the first element is not met, and he could be inside the machine area, so the badge record alone is the tempting but unsafe shortcut. Before restart the work area must also be checked under (e)(1) and (e)(2). The exception exists, so leaving the line locked indefinitely is not what the rule requires. Source: 29 CFR 1910.147(e)(1) to (e)(3).Practise more questions like this
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