After performing maintenance on equipment using LOTO, what is the correct sequence regarding energy restoration?

• A. Restore energy first, then remove tools.
• B. Notify affected personnel after restoring energy.
• C. Remove tools, verify zero energy, then restore energy.
• D. Remove tools, restore energy and verify.

Answer: (D)

The main idea is to restore energy only after you’ve finished work and cleared the area. Once maintenance is done and all tools and any energy-control devices are removed, you re-energize the equipment and then verify that it starts up correctly and operates safely. This sequence protects workers by ensuring there’s no one in the hazard zone when power is restored and gives you a clear check that the system is functioning as intended after energization.

Restoring energy first would risk re-energizing while someone could still be in or near the equipment. Notifying affected personnel after energizing isn’t the step that governs the actual energy restoration sequence, and verifying zero energy before restoring would normally occur during the isolation phase, not during restoration. So removing tools, then energizing, and finally verifying operation aligns with safe handover to normal operation.