Lockout/tagout refers to the process of shutting down and locking out machines before maintenance begins to prevent accidental start-up during machine maintenance, cleaning, or other similar operations. Locking out equipment provides a physical means (i.e., a lock) that ensures that power will not be restored to the machine and that the machine will not be started until work on the machine has been completed. Tagging the equipment warns others that someone is working on the machine and that power must not be restored to the machine until the work is completed and the person performing the work removes the tag.