Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Safe Work Procedures • Fire Safety • Emergency Planning

LOTO

Term from Safety industry explained for recruiters

LOTO, which stands for Lock Out/Tag Out, is a basic safety practice used in workplaces to prevent accidents when working with machinery or equipment. Think of it like a special system where workers put locks and warning tags on machines while they're being fixed or maintained, so nobody can accidentally turn them on. It's similar to putting a "Do Not Disturb" sign on a hotel door, but for dangerous equipment. Companies are required by law (OSHA regulations) to follow these procedures to keep workers safe. You might also see it written as "Lockout-Tagout" or "Lock-out/Tag-out."

Examples in Resumes

Trained 50+ employees on LOTO procedures and safety protocols

Developed and implemented Lock Out/Tag Out program across 3 manufacturing facilities

Led weekly safety audits including Lockout-Tagout compliance checks

Created LOTO documentation and training materials for new equipment installations

Typical job title: "Safety Coordinators"

Also try searching for:

Safety Manager EHS Coordinator Safety Specialist Environmental Health and Safety Manager Industrial Safety Coordinator Maintenance Safety Supervisor Safety Compliance Officer

Where to Find Safety Coordinators

Professional Organizations

Online Resources

Professional Networks

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you develop and implement a company-wide LOTO program?

Expected Answer: Should explain process of creating procedures, training programs, audit systems, and ensuring compliance across multiple departments or locations. Should mention stakeholder involvement and continuous improvement.

Q: How do you handle resistance to LOTO procedures from experienced workers?

Expected Answer: Should discuss change management, communication strategies, explaining safety benefits, using real accident examples, and maintaining consistent enforcement while being understanding of concerns.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What are the essential elements of a LOTO procedure?

Expected Answer: Should describe the basic steps: notification, shutdown, isolation, lockout, tagout, verification, and return to service. Should mention documentation and training requirements.

Q: How do you conduct a LOTO audit?

Expected Answer: Should explain checking procedures, documentation, employee interviews, physical inspection of locks and tags, and verification of training records.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is LOTO and why is it important?

Expected Answer: Should explain that LOTO prevents accidents during maintenance by ensuring machines can't be turned on unexpectedly, and mention it's required by law for workplace safety.

Q: What's the difference between a lock and a tag in LOTO?

Expected Answer: Should explain that locks physically prevent equipment operation, while tags warn others not to operate equipment and identify who placed the lock.