The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is requesting comments, data and other information on a possible update to the Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) standard, particularly as it pertains to the use of control circuit-type devices to isolate energy, as well as the evolving technology for robotics.

The agency is considering whether to accept alternatives to energy-isolating devices.

The current LOTO standard, published in 1989, requires that all sources of energy be controlled during servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment using an energy-isolating device. The standard specifies that control circuit devices cannot be used as energy-isolating devices, but the agency recognizes recent technological advances may have improved the safety of control circuit-type devices.

Comments must be submitted on or before August 18, 2019. Comments and materials may be submitted electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal, or by facsimile or mail. See the Federal Register notice for submission details.