When there is a group of workers, must each person apply their own lock?

When more than one person is doing the servicing and maintenance, the requirement is that each authorized employee must apply his own lock to the group lockout device, or group lock box. OSHA wants each individual worker to be protected by the employee’s own lock.

The easiest way to do this is to use a multi–lock hasp on the energy isolating device. These hasps typically hold about six locks, so each mechanic can apply a lock to the hasp.

When the job is more complicated, or when several mechanics are involved, employers can reduce the number of locks needed by using “operations locks” and a group lock box. In this commonly used method, the equipment is locked out by applying the “operations locks” to the machine’s energy isolating devices. The person who applied the locks then places the keys into a group lock box, and he applies his lock to the lock box. Each other authorized employee then applies the employee’s own lock to the lock box. At this point, no one can unlock the operations locks until all the locks are removed from the lock box. If this method is used, each authorized employee must still have the opportunity to verify that the equipment is locked out.