How must lockout be continued between shift changes?

To continue lockout during shift changes, the easiest method is for the oncoming authorized employee to apply his locks before the off-going employee removes his locks. As with a group lockout procedure, a multi–lock hasp or group lock box can be used to handle the locks.

The goal is the uninterrupted protection for the employees involved in servicing and maintenance.

Things get more complicated when the off–going employee will leave before workers on the next shift will arrive. In this situation, the procedure could allow for the off-going employee to apply a tagout device when he removes his lock. The tag indicates that the lock was removed, but that the machine is not to be re–energized. The on–coming employee would verify that the system was still de–energized, and would remove the interim tag and apply his lock. This would assure continuous protection from one shift to another.

When tagout is used instead of lockout, the employer could use a tag with space for the off-going employee to sign off (providing the date and time), and for the on-coming employee to sign on (also providing the date and time). For their own protection, each employee would verify that the machine is still de–energized before signing onto the tag.