OccuPros Safety Academy | Online Theory
Lockout/Tagout for Affected Employees
You may never put a single lock on a machine, and that is exactly the point. This course is for the workers who run, use, or simply work near the equipment when someone else is servicing it. Your job is to recognize a lockout, stay clear, and never undo someone else’s protection.
Most lockout/tagout training is written for the person crawling inside the machine, the one who shuts the power down, applies the locks, and does the repair. That person is called an authorized employee, and they need deep, hands-on training. But they are not the only people whose safety depends on lockout/tagout. For every authorized employee servicing a machine, there are usually several more workers nearby who operate that equipment, feed it, clean around it, or just pass through the area. OSHA calls those workers affected employees, and a startling number of lockout/tagout deaths happen not because the authorized person did something wrong, but because an affected employee did not understand what a lock meant.
This course is built for you, the affected employee. It is not the deep technical training an authorized employee gets, because you are not the one performing the lockout or the servicing. What you need is different and just as important: the ability to look at a machine, recognize that it is locked or tagged out, understand exactly what that lock is protecting, and know the one rule that never bends. You do not touch it. You do not start it. You do not remove the lock or the tag. Not yours to remove, not yours to bypass, not even “just to check.” When you understand why, this becomes one of the easiest and most life-saving habits you will ever build.
What you will learn
- What lockout/tagout is, why hazardous energy is the danger behind it, and why a switched-off machine is not the same as a safe machine.
- The difference between an authorized employee (who applies the locks and does the servicing) and an affected employee (who operates or works in the area but does not perform the lockout).
- How to recognize a lockout device and a tagout device on sight, and what each one is telling you.
- The absolute rule: never remove, bypass, ignore, or work around another person’s lock or tag, and never try to start or energize locked-out equipment.
- What to do when you see lockout/tagout in your area, how group lockout and shift changes work, and how to report a missing device or tampering.
Who this is for
Aligned with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147, The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout), including the affected-employee training provisions. Online awareness and information training that supports your employer’s required site-specific training and is not a substitute for it. OccuPros | (469) 746-4040 | occupros.com | Every Worker Home Safe.
Course References
- OSHA standards and guidance applicable to Lockout/Tagout - Affected Employee
- Employer written safety procedures and site-specific plans
- Manufacturer instructions, SDSs, permits, inspection forms, and emergency action plans when applicable
Applicable Industries:
OccuPros Safety Instructor Team
Every OccuPros course is developed and reviewed by our team of Certified Safety Professionals (CSP) and Safety Management Specialists (SMS) with 15+ years of field experience across construction, oil & gas, manufacturing, and general industry. Our instructors don't just teach safety - they've managed safety programs on active jobsites, conducted OSHA compliance audits, and published 184 safety course topics nationwide.
Before you buy
The practical questions, answered plainly.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. When you finish the course and pass the assessment, your certificate of completion is available to download immediately from your dashboard. It carries a verification number.
How long do I have access?
Access to this course does not expire. It is self-paced, so you can start, stop and resume whenever you like, and your progress is saved between sessions.
What if I fail the assessment?
You can retake it. Knowledge checks run through the course and the final assessment draws from a larger question bank, so a retake will not simply repeat the same questions.
Does this replace hands-on training?
This course delivers the knowledge portion. Site-specific procedures, equipment-specific practice and any required practical evaluation remain your employer's responsibility, and the course is explicit about where those lines fall.
How often does this training need repeating?
The recommended refresher cadence for this topic is annually. Retraining is also triggered by a change in process or equipment, or by an observed gap in an employee's knowledge.
Can I buy this for my whole crew?
Yes. Choose "My team" on this page to buy seats instead of a single enrolment. You become the team administrator, assign seats from your Team Portal as people join, and volume pricing applies automatically at 5 seats and again at 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Lockout/Tagout - Affected Employee course cover?
It explains the role of the affected employee, meaning a worker whose job involves operating or working near equipment that is serviced under lockout/tagout. You will learn to recognize lockout/tagout devices, understand why equipment is locked out, and know not to attempt to start or restore energized equipment. The content aligns with OSHA control of hazardous energy under 29 CFR 1910.147.
Who should take affected employee lockout/tagout training?
It is intended for workers who operate machines or work in areas where servicing occurs but who do not perform the lockout themselves. It is not the authorized-employee level for those who apply locks and tags. It suits general production, maintenance-adjacent, and support staff.
Is this a quick, affordable course?
Yes. It is a short, entry-level, self-paced course offered at a low price point. It is an efficient way to meet awareness-level training needs for affected employees.
Do I get a certificate, and is it self-paced?
Yes. The course is fully online and self-paced, and you can download a Certificate of Completion when you finish. It works on mobile devices for added convenience.
