Who, other than the person authorized, may remove the tag or lock placed on a piece of equipment?

• A. Maintenance supervisor
• B. Safety officer
• C. Plant manager
• D. Any qualified equipment operator

Answer: (D)

Lockout/tagout devices protect workers by ensuring equipment can’t start up unexpectedly during maintenance. Removing a tag or lock should be done only by someone who is trained and authorized to verify that all energy sources are isolated and that it’s safe to resume using the equipment. A qualified equipment operator has the hands-on knowledge of the machine and the steps to confirm zero energy before removing the device, making them the appropriate person to perform the removal. This ensures the work area stays safe and the equipment can be re-energized in a controlled, predictable way.