In Lockout Tagout, which step requires shutting down equipment properly?

• A. Notify Employees
• B. Shut Down Equipment Properly
• C. Disconnect all primary energy sources
• D. Address all secondary sources

Answer: (B)

Shut Down Equipment Properly is the step that brings the machine to a safe state by using its normal controls to stop operation. This ensures all motion stops and energy is in a known, controlled condition before lockout is applied. Without a proper shutdown, energy can still be present or released unexpectedly when you attempt to lock out, creating a serious hazard.

After this shutdown, you proceed to isolate energy sources and apply lockout, while stored or residual energy (secondary sources) is addressed as part of the overall energy control. Notifying employees is important for safety communication, but it doesn’t perform the shutdown itself. Disconnecting primary energy sources and addressing secondary sources follow the shutdown to ensure the equipment remains safely de-energized.