Who may remove a lockout on the power source of a piece of mechanical equipment?

• A. Only the person who installed the lockout
• B. Any authorized person
• C. A supervisor
• D. Maintenance personnel

Answer: (A)

Lockout removal is tightly controlled because the device was put in place by the person who verified the machine is safe to work on. The most reliable way to maintain that safety is to have the same person who applied the lockout remove it, ensuring they know the area is clear and it is safe to re-energize. This creates clear accountability and prevents someone else from energizing equipment while a worker could be in a hazardous spot. In a rare case, if the person who installed the lockout cannot be reached, a supervisor can remove it following established procedures and after confirming it’s safe. Other workers removing the lockout would break that direct precaution, which is why only the installer (or, in an approved exception, a supervisor under the proper protocol) should handle removal.