Energy.
We need an energy source to provide us with power, whether it’s from electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, gravitational, or any other source powering equipment and machines.
When this energy is uncontrolled and accidently released or unexpectedly started up, it can result in severe injury or death. This is when energy becomes hazardous.
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) created standards your employer must follow to prevent accidents associated with hazardous energy. One of these standards is found in Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1910.147. It refers to safety practices and procedures necessary to disable machinery and equipment, ensuring it is shut off and unable to release potentially hazardous energy during maintenance or service work.
This Standard is known as Lockout/Tagout, or LOTO.