How do you distinguish between lockout and tagout in energy control?

How do you distinguish between lockout and tagout in energy control?

• A. Lockout uses a warning tag alone, which is less secure.
• B. Lockout uses a physical lock to prevent energization; tagout uses a warning tag alone, which is less secure.
• C. Lockout uses a physical lock to prevent energization; tagout uses both a lock and tag.
• D. Both lockout and tagout use a warning tag only.

Answer: (B)

When controlling energy during maintenance, the key difference is whether energization is physically blocked or just warned against. Lockout uses a physical lock attached to the energy-isolating device, so energization cannot occur until the lock is removed by the authorized person. Tagout relies on a warning tag, indicating the device should not be energized, but it does not physically prevent energization by itself, making it less secure. That’s why this option is the best: it accurately contrasts the physical protection of lockout with the warning-only nature of tagout. The other statements misstate how lockout and tagout work—for example, suggesting lockout uses a tag, or that tagout uses both a lock and a tag, or that both rely only on tags.

When controlling energy during maintenance, the key difference is whether energization is physically blocked or just warned against. Lockout uses a physical lock attached to the energy-isolating device, so energization cannot occur until the lock is removed by the authorized person. Tagout relies on a warning tag, indicating the device should not be energized, but it does not physically prevent energization by itself, making it less secure. That’s why this option is the best: it accurately contrasts the physical protection of lockout with the warning-only nature of tagout. The other statements misstate how lockout and tagout work—for example, suggesting lockout uses a tag, or that tagout uses both a lock and a tag, or that both rely only on tags.