ADOSH-SF Code of Practice CoP 24.0 - Lock-out / Tag-out (Isolation)

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Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and
Health System Framework
(ADOSH-SF)
Code of Practice
CoP 24.0 – Lock-out / Tag-out (Isolation)
Version 4.1
February 2026

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice
CoP 24.0 - Lock-out / Tag-out (Isolation) - Version 4.1 – 16th February 2026 Page 2 of 12
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Training and Competency .............................................................................................................. 4
3. Requirements ................................................................................................................................. 6
3.1 Roles and Responsibilities ....................................................................................................... 6
3.2 Planning and Assessment........................................................................................................ 6
3.3 Lock-out/Tag-out Requirements ............................................................................................. 7
4. Record Keeping .............................................................................................................................. 9
5. Document Amendment Record ................................................................................................... 10

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice
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1. Introduction
(a) This Code of Practice (CoP) applies to all employers within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
This CoP is designed to incorporate requirements set by UAE and Abu Dhabi regulatory
authorities. If requirements of this document conflict with requirements set by
another regulatory authority, employers are required to follow the more stringent
requirement.
(b) This CoP establishes the requirements and standards so that the risks associated with
the use of lock out / tag out (isolation) are assessed, that control measures are
implemented in accordance with the hierarchy of controls and those measures are
taken to prevent injury, illness and disease to persons who might be exposed to risks
arising from those activities.
(c) Lock-out / Tag-out is defined as the “Introduction of a device to isolate energy sources
& placement of tag on isolated device to show that equipment is out of service for
repair or maintenance work”.
(d) This CoP applies to the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment in
which the unexpected energization or start-up of the machines or equipment, or
release of stored energy could cause injury to employees. This CoP establishes
minimum performance requirements for the control of such hazardous energy.
(e) Normal production operations are not covered by this CoP. Servicing and/or
maintenance which takes place during normal production operations is covered by this
CoP only if:
(i) an employee is required to remove or bypass a guard or other safety device; or
(ii) an employee is required to place any part of his body into an area on a machine
or piece of equipment where work is actually performed upon the material
being processed (point of operation).
(f) This standard does not apply to the following:
(i) work on cord and plug connected electric equipment for which exposure to the
hazards of unexpected energization or startup of the equipment is controlled by
the unplugging of the equipment from the energy source and by the plug being
under the exclusive control of the employee performing the servicing or
maintenance; and
(ii) hot tap operations involving transmission and distribution systems for substances
such as gas, steam, water or petroleum products when they are performed on
pressurized pipelines, provided that the employer demonstrates that:
1. continuity of service is essential;
2. shutdown of the system is impractical; and
3. documented procedures are followed, and special equipment is used which
will provide proven effective protection for employees.

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2. Training and Competency
(a) Employers shall ensure that OSH training complies with the requirements of:
(i)
ADOSH-SF – Element 5 – Training, Awareness and Competency;
(ii)
ADOSH-SF – Mechanism 7.0 – Occupational Safety and Health Practitioner and
Service Provider Registration.
(b) Employers shall provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy
control program are understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills
required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls are
acquired by employees.
(c) The training shall include the following:
(i) each employee who places and removes lock-out and tag-out devices shall receive
training in:
1. recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources;
2. types and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace;
3. types of isolation devises and their use; and
4. procedures, methods and means required for energy isolation and control
in the workplace.
(ii) each employee who shall work on machines or equipment which are subject to lock-
out/tag-out requirements shall be instructed in the purpose and use of the energy
control procedure; and
(iii) all other employees whose work operations are or may be in an area where energy
control measures may be utilized, shall be instructed about the procedure, and
about the prohibition relating to attempts to restart or reenergize machines or
equipment which are locked out or tagged out.
(d) When tag-out systems are used, employees shall also be trained in the following
limitations of tags:
(i) tags are essentially warning devices affixed to energy isolating devices, and do
not provide the physical restraint on those devices that is provided by a lock;
(ii) when a tag is attached to an energy isolating means, it is not to be removed
without authorization of the employee responsible for it, and it is never to be
bypassed, ignored, or otherwise defeated; and
(iii) tags may evoke a false sense of security, and their meaning needs to be
understood as part of the overall energy control program.
(e) Refresher training shall be provided for employees whenever there is a change in their
job assignments, a change in machines, equipment or processes that present a new
hazard, or when there is a change in the energy control measures:
(i) additional refresher training shall also be conducted whenever a periodic
inspection reveals, or whenever the employer has reason to believe that there are
deviations from or inadequacies in the employee’s knowledge or use of the energy
control measures; and

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(ii) the refresher training shall reestablish employee proficiency and introduce new or
revised control measures and procedures, as necessary.
(f) The employer shall maintain a record of employee training. The record shall contain:
(i) employee name and ID number;
(ii) Emirates ID number;
(iii) classification of employee (authorized, affected, other);
(iv) dates of training; and
(v) name of person providing the training.
(g) The training shall be conducted in the common, understandable language of the
employees & employer has to make sure that all necessary elements of the training
being delivered & understood by all involved in training program.

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3. Requirements
3.1 Roles and Responsibilities
3.1.1 Employer
(a) Employers shall undertake their roles and responsibilities in accordance with the
general requirements of
ADOSH-SF – Element 1 – Roles, Responsibilities and Self-
Regulation Section 3.2.5.
(b) Employers shall comply with
MOHRE Administrative Decision No. (19) OF 2023
Relating to Occupational Safety and Health & Labour Accommodations.
(c) Employers shall undertake their specific roles and responsibilities in accordance with
the following:
(i) all activities where unexpected energization or start up of machinery and/or
equipment is identified as a hazard shall be appropriately planned, organized and
supervised;
(ii) those involved such activities shall be appropriately trained and competent;
(iii) appropriate safe systems of work shall be developed; and
(iv) an energy control program, as outlined in this CoP, shall be developed.
3.1.2 Employee
(a) Employees shall undertake their roles and responsibilities in accordance with the
general requirements of
ADOSH-SF – Element 1 – Roles, Responsibilities and Self-
Regulation Section 3.2.7.
3.2 Planning and Assessment
(a) Employers shall evaluate each site or operation to determine if hazards are present
and the workplace shall be assessed using risk management practices as required by
ADOSH-SF – Element 2 – Risk Management.
(b) Where hazards are present, the employer shall develop an energy control program in
line with the requirements of this CoP.
(c) Employers shall ensure:
(i) assessment of the various risks and establishment of systems of work which are
safe to other employees, contractors and the public;
(ii) for the Building and Construction Sector the management of lock out / tag out
requirements are included in the Pre-Tender Health and Safety Plan in accordance
with ADOSH-SF - CoP 53.0 – OSH Management during Construction Work; and
(iii) that associated safe systems of work, and site rules are included in the Safety and
Health Construction Management Plan (OSH -CMP) in the case of the Building and
Construction Sector in accordance with
ADOSH-SF – CoP 53.0 – OSH Management
during Construction Work.

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3.3 Lock-out/Tag-out Requirements
(a) Employers shall establish a program consisting of energy control measures,
procedures, training and periodic inspections to ensure that, before an employee
performs any inspection, repair maintenance or cleaning on plant / machinery /
equipment where unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could
occur, the plant / machinery / equipment shall be isolated for the energy source and
rendered inoperative.
(b) If an energy isolating device is capable of being locked out, the employer's energy
control measures shall utilize lockout.
(c) If an energy isolating device is not capable of being locked out, the employer's energy
control measures shall utilize a tag-out system.
(d) When a tag-out system / device is used on an energy isolating device which is capable
of being locked out, the tag-out device shall be attached at the same location that the
lock-out device would have been attached, and the employer shall demonstrate that
the tag-out program will provide a level of safety equivalent to that obtained by using
a lockout program.
(e) Whenever replacement or major repair, renovation or modification of a machine or
equipment is performed, and whenever new machines or equipment are installed,
energy isolating devices for such machine or equipment shall be designed to accept a
lockout device.
(f) Procedures shall clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization,
rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means
to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, the following:
(i) a specific statement of the intended use of the procedure;
(ii) specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing
machines or equipment to control hazardous energy;
(iii) specific procedural steps for the placement, removal and transfer of lock-out
devices or tag-out devices and the responsibility for them;
(iv) specific requirements for testing a machine or equipment to determine and verify
the effectiveness of lock-out devices, tag-out devices, and other energy control
measures;
(v) procedures to be followed where multiple lock out / tag out devises are to be
utilized due to multiple tasks being undertaken; and
(vi) specific requirements for removing lock-out or tag-out devices and restoring
machines and equipment to normal operation.
(g) Appropriate locks, tags, chains, or other hardware shall be provided by the employer
for isolating, securing or blocking of machines or equipment from energy sources.

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(h) Lock-out devices and tag-out devices shall be singularly identified; shall be the only
devices(s) used for controlling energy; shall not be used for other purposes; and shall
meet the following requirements:
(i) lock-out and tag-out devices shall be capable of withstanding the environment to
which they are exposed for the maximum period of time that exposure is expected;
(ii) tags shall be legible, printed in Arabic and English, and any other language(s)
necessary for the understanding and comprehension by all employees;
(iii) tags shall be constructed and printed so that exposure to weather conditions or
wet and damp locations will not cause the tag to deteriorate or the message on
the tag to become illegible;
(iv) tags shall not deteriorate when used in corrosive environments such as areas
where acid and alkali chemicals are handled and stored;
(v) tags shall be securely attached to energy isolating devices so that they cannot be
inadvertently or accidentally detached during use; and
(vi) lock-out, tag-out devices shall be robust enough to sustain any adverse, forceful
penetration.
(i) The employer shall conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control measures /
procedures on an annual basis to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of
this CoP are being followed. The periodic inspection shall be performed by a competent
employee other than the ones(s) utilizing the energy control procedure(s) being
inspected.

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4. Record Keeping
(a) The employer shall maintain a record that the periodic inspections have been
performed. The record shall contain:
(i) training records;
(ii) list of authorized persons;
(iii) the machine or equipment on which the energy control procedure was being
utilized;
(iv) the date of the inspection;
(v) the employees included in the inspection;
(vi) the person performing the inspection; and
(vii) manufacturer's catalogue with all necessary information.

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5. Document Amendment Record
Version Revision Date Description of Amendment
Page/s Affected
4.0
15th July 2024
System acronym updated from OSHAD-SF
to ADOSH-SF to accurately reflect
document title
Throughout
Change from OSHAD to ADPHC
Change of Logo
Minor editorial changes throughout the
document without changing requirements.
Title of Mechanism 7.0 updated to ADOSH-
SF – Mechanism 7– Public and Preventive
Health Practitioner and Service Provider
Accreditation
OSHAD-SF - Mechanism 8.0 - OSH
Practitioner Registration deleted
4.1
16th February
2026
Update reference to relevant federal
requirements
6
Minor editorial changes throughout the
document without changing requirements
Throughout

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