Electrical lockout/tagout procedures are designed to keep:

• A. A system from being overheated
• B. A system from being accidentally energized
• C. A system from overloading
• D. A system from short circuits

Answer: (B)

Lockout/tagout focuses on controlling hazardous energy so a machine won’t start up or energize while someone is working on it. By isolating the energy source and applying a lock or tag, the equipment is physically prevented from being energized, and a warning is provided to others not to restart it. This protects workers from unexpected startup, which is the primary risk during maintenance or repair.

Other options describe problems that can occur in electrical systems (overheating, overloading, short circuits), but they aren’t what lockout/tagout is mainly designed to prevent. Those conditions are typically addressed by protective devices and safe design, while lockout/tagout ensures the equipment remains de-energized during servicing.