A second person may accompany the first checker during a tag-out procedure?

• A. No
• B. Yes
• C. Sometimes
• D. Not specified

Answer: (A)

Tag-out procedures hinge on clear control and accountability. The person who applies the lockout and tag is the one responsible for keeping the equipment isolated and protected while the maintenance work is done. Bringing in a second person to accompany the first checker can create confusion about who actually holds control, and it increases the chance that a lockout device could be bypassed or removed inadvertently. To maintain a straightforward, unambiguous isolation, the process is designed so that only the designated individual maintains control over the lockout/tags during the shutdown phase. If additional oversight is needed, it should come from separate, non-operational verification rather than accompanying the person performing the lockout. That’s why the correct stance is that a second person should not accompany the first checker during a tag-out procedure.