The OSHA standard for The Control of Hazardous Energy, known as “Lockout and Tagout” (LOTO) requires employers to control hazardous energy during service and maintenance activities in automotive repair shops. The purpose of a LOTO program is to protect employees from workplace hazards where hazardous energy has the potential to injure the employee.
Hazardous energy refers to: mechanical motion; potential energy due to pressure, gravity, or springs; battery or generated electrical energy; thermal energy; chemical energy; and other forms of energy, which can cause injury to employees working with or around machines or equipment. Vehicles may contain hazardous energy or conditions.