Who Needs Authorized vs Affected LOTO Training at Your Facility?
Determine who needs authorized vs affected LOTO training by reviewing actual tasks, energy isolation duties, and employee roles around serviced equipment.
Published: July 1, 2026 · By SafetyNet Editorial Team
Category: Industrial Safety
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is considered an authorized employee under lockout/tagout?
An authorized employee is someone who locks out or tags out equipment to perform servicing or maintenance. If the employee applies energy-isolation devices or verifies isolation, they should be evaluated for authorized training.
Who needs affected-employee LOTO training?
Affected employees are people who operate the equipment being serviced or whose work is tied to that shutdown. They need to understand the purpose of lockout/tagout and that they must not restart or bypass locked or tagged equipment.
Can an operator need authorized training?
Yes. If an operator performs servicing or maintenance and applies lockout or tagout devices, they may need authorized-employee training rather than affected training only.
How should I determine LOTO training levels at my facility?
Review actual tasks around each covered machine or system, then identify who applies locks, who verifies isolation, and who is impacted by the shutdown. Classify employees based on those duties, not just their titles or departments.
Do supervisors and contractors need to be considered in the classification process?
Yes. Supervisors may need affected training or more depending on their duties, and contractor coordination should clearly define who applies lockout and what site-specific expectations apply.