Out of Service
Start Tracking NowOut of service is the status given to a tool, vehicle, or piece of safety equipment that has been found defective or unsafe. It must not be used until it's repaired, re-inspected, and returned to service, or until it's retired for good.
Taking equipment out of service is the step that makes an inspection matter. Finding a cut harness strap is only useful if the harness can't end up on someone's back the next morning.
When Equipment Goes Out of Service
- It fails an inspection, such as an extinguisher with low pressure or a ladder with a cracked rail
- It's damaged during use
- It's subjected to an event that requires inspection, such as fall protection that arrested a fall
- An inspection or test is overdue and your program doesn't allow use without it
- A manufacturer recall applies
Many OSHA standards say this directly. For example, defective fall protection components, damaged slings, and defective ladders must be removed from service. When a fire extinguisher is out for maintenance or recharging, OSHA requires equivalent protection in its place.
The Out-of-Service Cycle
- Defect foundInspection or report
- Out of serviceTagged and recorded
- RepairOr replace
- Re-inspectAuthorized person
- Back in serviceStatus cleared
Red Tags vs. Lockout/Tagout
A red tag ("Do Not Use") marks defective equipment so nobody picks it up. Lockout/tagout under OSHA 1910.147 is a different program: it isolates hazardous energy so machines don't start up while someone services them. Both use tags, but they solve different problems.
Why Tags Alone Aren't Enough
Paper tags fall off, get removed, or are ignored when someone is in a hurry. On a busy site, defective equipment can end up back in a gang box or truck with nobody aware it failed. A system that blocks checkout of out-of-service equipment, and tells the right people right away, closes that gap.
Out of Service in ToolWorks
In ToolWorks, a Major failure on an inspection automatically marks the tool, equipment, or vehicle out of service and sends staff an immediate notification. An out-of-service item can't be checked out until someone clears its status, so a failed harness or discharged extinguisher can't quietly go back into use. Out-of-service items can then be repaired through maintenance and re-inspected.
See how this works for industrial safety equipment inspection, or start your free trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does out of service mean for equipment?
The equipment has been found unsafe or defective and must not be used until it is repaired, re-inspected, and returned to service, or until it is retired.
When does OSHA require equipment to be removed from service?
Many OSHA standards require defective equipment to be removed from service, including fall protection equipment with defects or that has arrested a fall, damaged slings, and defective ladders. Equipment that fails a required inspection should generally come out of service until fixed.
What is a red tag?
A tag attached to defective equipment that says "Do Not Use" or "Out of Service", usually with the defect, date, and name of the person who tagged it. Red tagging is a common practice; it is different from lockout/tagout, which controls hazardous energy during servicing.
Who can return equipment to service?
Someone authorized by your program, after the defect is repaired and the equipment is re-inspected. Some standards require a competent person to make that decision, such as for fall protection that has arrested a fall.