A mandatory safety procedure requiring workers to isolate and de-energise equipment before servicing or maintenance begins. Subcontractors must follow the site owner's LOTO programme and hold current training documentation. Non-compliance can result in removal from site and contract termination.
Lockout/tagout
Related Terms
Stop-Work Order
ComplianceA formal directive halting all or part of a worksite operation due to a safety, contractual, or regulatory concern. Subcontractors must comply immediately, regardless of who issues it. Downtime caused by a stop-work order may affect billing, crew scheduling, and contract timelines.
Utility Locating
ComplianceThe process of identifying and marking underground utilities before excavation begins. Subcontractors are often required to confirm locates are valid before breaking ground. Failure to comply can result in strikes, liability, and work stoppages.
MUTCD (Manual On Uniform Traffic Control Devices)
ComplianceThe U.S. federal standard governing road signs, signals, and markings near worksites. Subcontractors performing roadside or right-of-way work must follow MUTCD traffic control plans. Non-compliance can result in stop-work orders, fines, or lost contracts.
Confined Space Attendant
ComplianceA trained worker stationed outside a permit-required confined space to monitor entrants and conditions. They maintain communication with the entry team and initiate rescue procedures if hazards arise. Subcontractors must supply a qualified attendant or face work stoppages and liability on site.
Smart Work Zone
ComplianceA construction or industrial site equipped with sensors, cameras, and connected devices to monitor traffic, equipment, and worker movement in real time. Subcontractors operating in these zones must comply with data-sharing and equipment compatibility requirements set by the prime contractor. Non-compliance can result in site access delays or contract penalties.
Private Utility
ComplianceA utility line owned and maintained by a private company or landowner, not a public provider. These lines may not appear on municipal locate requests, creating hidden strike risks. Subcontractors must request owner-supplied records before any ground disturbance.
Latest Compliance News
OSHA's 2026 Agenda Targets Lockout/Tagout, Heat Rule, Power Presses
OSHA's newly released regulatory agenda sets a November target for a modernized lockout/tagout proposal and a December supplemental notice on the heat rule, while MSHA plans a revised silica proposal for July.
23 days agoComplianceOSHA Dallas Region Administrator Talks Fall Protection, Lockout/Tagout, and Enforcement Direction
OSHA's Eric Harbin, administrator of the Dallas Region, discussed fall protection failures, lockout/tagout compliance, and the agency's current enforcement posture in a new interview with Safety+Health Magazine.
3 months agoComplianceOSHA Lockout/Tagout Rules: What Field Crews Must Know
OSHA's lockout/tagout standard requires employers to control hazardous energy during equipment maintenance. Here's a practical breakdown of the key requirements for field service teams.
3 months agoComplianceOSHA Regulatory Agenda Delays Heat Standard, Advances Tree Care and Lockout Rules
OMB's July 2026 Regulatory Agenda shows OSHA pushing its national heat standard back to a supplemental proposal by December 2026, while advancing tree care, emergency response and lockout/tagout rule changes contractors should track.
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Compliance GuideOSHA Citations on Multi-Employer Worksites: What Subcontractors Need to Know
Learn how OSHA's multi-employer citation policy works, why subcontractors get cited for hazards they didn't create, and how to protect your company on operator-controlled job sites.
Compliance GuideHow to Read and Negotiate an Oilfield Master Service Agreement (MSA): A Subcontractor's Guide
Learn which MSA clauses actually matter for oilfield subcontractors: indemnity, insurance, payment terms, and change orders. Know what you're signing.
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