Which statement best defines lockout/tagout (LOTO) in a surgical setting?

• A. A procedure for labeling instrument sterilization records.
• B. A set of steps to ensure patient identity is verified.
• C. A safety procedure to ensure machines are properly shut down during maintenance to prevent unexpected energization and injuries.
• D. A system for documenting room cleaning schedules.

Answer: (C)

Lockout/tagout is a safety procedure that prevents equipment from being energized or restarted while maintenance or repair work is being performed. In a surgical setting, this means identifying all energy sources for the equipment (electric, pneumatic, hydraulic, gas, etc.), isolating those sources, applying a physical lock to the energy‑isolating device, and attaching a tag that indicates maintenance is in progress. Only the authorized person who applied the lock can remove it, ensuring the machine cannot accidentally start up and cause injuries to the technician or others nearby. This practice protects staff from unexpected energization, startup, or release of stored energy during service, which could be catastrophic in an operating room environment. Other options describe unrelated processes like labeling sterilization records, verifying patient identity, or documenting cleaning schedules, which do not address preventing unexpected machine energization during maintenance.