Host Facility vs. Contractor: Who Owns Lockout/Tagout Control?

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is responsible for lockout/tagout when contractors are working on site?

Both sides have a role. The host facility controls the workplace and plant-specific energy isolation, while the contractor controls its own employees, and both must coordinate clearly before and during the job.

Can the host facility leave contractor lockout/tagout entirely to the contractor?

No. The post states that the host facility cannot treat contractor energy control as someone else’s responsibility and must coordinate procedures, restrictions, and protections with the outside employer.

What usually causes contractor lockout/tagout failures?

The most common problems are unclear authority, poor verification, scope changes, and weak handoffs during shift changes or multi-employer work. Confusion also shows up when generic contractor procedures do not match the host’s equipment-specific process.

What should be decided before contractor work starts?

The host and contractor should settle who has authority over the equipment, who performs isolation, who verifies zero energy, how group lockout will work, how changes will be handled, and who can approve re-energization. If those questions are unresolved, the job is not ready.

What is a practical way to divide lockout/tagout control between the host and contractor?

The post recommends a host-led, contractor-integrated model. In that approach, the host keeps control of plant-specific hazardous energy isolation, and the contractor fits its employee protection steps into that agreed framework.