When Locks are Required and When They are Not
| Know the Laws of Your Province Here’s what your jurisdiction says about when locks are required—and when they’re not | |||
| Locks Required | Locks Not Required | Relevant Section of the OHS Law(links) | |
| FED | When a guard has been removed from a machine so that repair or maintenance work can be performed on it. | No specified exceptions. | OHS Regs., Secs. |
| AB | a) When machinery or powered mobile equipment must be serviced, repaired, tested, adjusted or inspected; b) when piping, a pipeline or a process system containing a harmful substance under pressure must be serviced, repaired, tested, adjusted or inspected; and c) when a safeguard for machinery has been removed or made ineffective and the machinery can’t be controlled by a worker. | No specified exceptions. | OHS Code 2009, Part 15 |
| BC | a) When the unexpected energization or start-up of machinery or equipment or the unexpected release of an energy source could injure a worker; and b) when machinery or equipment is shut down for maintenance. | Lockout isn’t required if: a) the energy isolating device is under the exclusive and immediate control of the worker at all times while working on the machinery or equipment; or b) a tool, machine or piece of equipment that gets power through a readily disconnected source of power, such as an electric cord or quick release air or hydraulic line, is disconnected from its power supply and its connection point is kept under the immediate control of the worker at all times while work is being done. | OHS Reg., Part 10 |
| MB | a) When a safeguard has been removed or made ineffective; and b) when a machine is serviced, repaired, tested, cleaned, maintained or adjusted. | No specified exceptions. | Workplace Safety and Health Reg., Secs. 16.14-16.18 |
| NB | When a machine must be cleaned, maintained, adjusted or repaired. | No specified exceptions. | OHS Reg., Secs. 239-240 |
| NL | a) When the unexpected energization or start-up of machinery or equipment or the unexpected release of an energy source could injure a worker; and b) when machinery or equipment is shut down for maintenance. | Lockout isn’t required if: a) the energy isolating device is under the exclusive and immediate control of the worker at all times while working on the machinery or equipment; or b) a tool, machine or piece of equipment that gets power through a readily disconnected source of power, such as an electric cord or quick release air or hydraulic line, is disconnected from its power supply and its connection point is kept under the immediate control of the worker at all times while work is being done. | OHS Regs. 2009, Part IX |
| NT/ NU | When machinery or equipment is shut down for maintenance or repairs. | No specified exceptions. | General Safety Regs., Secs. 141-149 |
| NS | When work is performed on a machine, equipment, tool or electrical installation and the work is hazardous to a worker if the machine, equipment, tool or electrical installation is or becomes energized. | No specified exceptions. | Occupational Safety General Regs., Part 6 |
| ON | When the starting of a machine, transmission machinery, device or thing may endanger a worker’s safety. | No specified exceptions. | Industrial Establishments Reg., Sec. 76 |
| PE | a) When machinery or equipment is shut down for cleaning, maintenance or repairs; and b) when a safeguard on machinery has been removed or rendered ineffective and the machinery can’t be directly controlled by the worker. | No specified exceptions. | OHS Regs., Secs. 30.6 – 30.7 |
| QC | a) Before any maintenance, repair or unjamming work is performed in a machine’s danger zone; and b) when a worker must remove a protector or protective device to access a machine’s danger zone for adjustment, unjamming, maintenance, apprenticeship or repair purposes. | No specified exceptions. | Reg. on Health and Safety, Secs. 185 – 186 |
| SK | Before a worker undertakes the maintenance, repair, testing or adjustment of a machine. | No specified exceptions. | OHS Regs., Sec. 139 |
| YT | a) When a worker could be injured by the unexpected energization or start-up of machinery or equipment or the unexpected release of an energy source; and b) when machinery or equipment is shut down for maintenance work. | Lockout isn’t required if: a) the energy isolating device is under the exclusive and immediate control of the worker at all times while working on the machinery or equipment; or b) a tool, machine or piece of equipment that gets power through a readily disconnected source of power, such as an electric cord or quick release air or hydraulic line, is disconnected from its power supply and its connection point is kept under the immediate control of the worker at all times while work is being done. | OHS Regs., Part 3 |
Lockout Resources
Some jurisdictions provide guidelines and other resources on compliance with lockout requirements. Here are links to some of those resources:
AB: Guide to Part 15 of the OHS Code 2009
BC: Lockout Booklet; Lockout Safety Talk; Video: Lockout: A guide to safe work practices
MB: Guideline for Safeguarding Machinery and Equipment
NB: Lockout Hazard Alert; Lockout Handout; Lockout Safety Talk; Lockout Checklist
NS: Lock-out: A Guide to Part 6 of the Occupational Safety General Regulations
