Who should provide verbal notification to affected employees about LOTO procedures?

• A. Security Personnel
• B. Authorized Employees
• C. Maintenance Staff
• D. Only the Supervisor

Answer: (B)

Verbal notification should come from the person who performs the lockout or tagout—the authorized employee. This worker has been trained and given the authority to isolate energy sources, so they’re the most reliable source of information about what’s being shut down, why it’s shut down, and what operations are restricted. By informing affected employees directly, they understand the impending hazard, recognize the lockout in place, and know not to attempt to start, resume, or bypass the equipment.

Security personnel aren’t typically responsible for communicating LOTO procedures, and while maintenance staff may be involved in the work, the responsibility to notify the people nearby rests with the person executing the lockout. Relying solely on a supervisor can miss the direct, practical safety update that the authorized employee provides to those working around the equipment.