Many maintenance injuries happen when a machine starts up unexpectedly or stored energy is released while someone is working on it. Lockout/tagout (LOTO) is the procedure that prevents this.
A typical sequence is: prepare and notify affected workers, shut the equipment down, isolate every energy source, apply a personal lock and tag, release or restrain stored energy, and — most importantly — verify isolation by trying to start the equipment before work begins.
Each worker should apply their own lock, and only the person who applied a lock should remove it. Written procedures for each machine help make sure no energy source is missed.
LOTO works when it is treated as non-negotiable. Short cuts save minutes; the consequences of skipping it can last a lifetime.