Which statement best describes lockout requirements for an electrically operated breaker?

• A. Lock the breaker in the open position
• B. Lock the control circuit only
• C. Lock the fuses only
• D. Do not lock anything

Answer: (A)

Lockout is about preventing energy from being delivered to equipment while it’s being serviced. For an electrically operated breaker, the most reliable way to ensure no one can re-energize the circuit is to lock the breaker itself in the open (de-energized) position. This physically prevents the breaker from closing, so even if someone tries to operate the control circuit or bypass other energy sources, the electrical path remains open. This method is what keeps the energy from flowing into the equipment while work is done, and is typically used with a lock and an accompanying tag that identifies the authorized person and the reason for the lockout. Locking only the control circuit or only the fuses doesn’t guarantee safety, because the breaker could still be closed by other means or reenergized through another path. Do not lock anything would leave the circuit vulnerable to unexpected energization.