Is the Brady SafeKey ALU-BLU-38ST-KD the right lockout/tagout padlock for individually-keyed, color-coded personal energy control?

Short answer: Yes — if you need a single, individually-keyed lock that assigns blue to a worker, trade, or shift in a color-coded program. The Brady SafeKey ALU-BLU-38ST-KD ships keyed different (KD), so its key opens only this lock, which is the foundation of one-worker-one-lock-one-key control under OSHA 1910.147. If you are equipping a whole crew at once, a keyed-different 10-pack is the more economical path; for choosing a lock at all, start with our guide on how to choose a lockout padlock.

Brady SafeKey ALU-BLU-38ST-KD Review (2026)

In a lockout/tagout program, this padlock has one job: hold an energy-isolating device — a breaker, valve, or disconnect — in the safe position so equipment cannot be re-energized while a worker is exposed to the hazard. The Brady SafeKey ALU-BLU-38ST-KD sits in the lockout padlocks tier of the broader lockout/tagout devices program, alongside the lockout hasps that turn a single isolation point into a group lockout, the cable lockouts for odd geometry, and the lockout tags that identify the worker. Because it ships keyed different, this is squarely a personal lock — issued to one authorized employee who controls the only key — which is exactly the model OSHA 1910.147 is built around. The blue body matters: color is how mixed crews tell whose lock is on a hasp at a glance, and Brady's SafeKey line gives you a full palette to standardize against. If you are new to the standard, read what is lockout/tagout before you buy.

Editorial verdict — 4.5/5
For a premium individually-keyed personal lock in a color-coded program, the SafeKey ALU-BLU-38ST-KD earns its price through Brady's keying system and lightweight aluminum body — but per-unit cost makes it a poor way to outfit an entire crew compared with a keyed-different multi-pack.VIEW ON WC SAFETY →CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON →

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Who it is for

• Electricians who need an individually-keyed personal lock for electrical isolation under 1910.333 — pair it with lockout tags and review how to perform LOTO
• Maintenance technicians who carry a personal lock daily and value the light aluminum body over a heavier steel safety padlock
• Safety managers standardizing a color-coded program who want blue assigned to a specific trade or shift across the lockout padlocks lineup
• Facilities teams adding a premium individually-keyed option alongside budget multi-packs for new hires
• Contractors who need a recognizable, standards-fit personal lock and may also want a portable LOTO kit for mobile work
• Single-worker operators isolating one point at a time who want a clean keyed-different lock rather than a keyed-alike set

What the Brady SafeKey ALU-BLU-38ST-KD does well

Keyed-different by design

The ALU-BLU-38ST-KD ships keyed different, so its key opens this lock and no other. That is the textbook configuration for the personal-protection core of OSHA 1910.147: each authorized employee controls the only key to their own lock, and equipment cannot be re-energized until that worker returns. See how to choose a lockout padlock for why KD is the default.

Lightweight aluminum body

Aluminum keeps the lock light for daily carry on a tool belt across a long shift — a real comfort advantage over heavier steel-bodied locks like the Master Lock 410GRN. For crews who apply and remove locks repeatedly, weight adds up.

Color-coded program fit

Blue is one slot in a disciplined color-coding scheme, letting a program assign a color to a worker, trade, or shift. Brady's SafeKey line spans a full palette, so you can extend the same platform across your lockout padlocks — and pair locks with matching lockout tags for clear worker identification.

Standardized, identifiable safety lock

This is a single-purpose lockout padlock, not a general-security lock, so it is durable, substantial, and instantly identifiable as a lockout device on a hasp — the four traits the standard demands. That recognizability matters in facilities with rotating crews; read what is lockout/tagout.

Platform you can scale

Because SafeKey is a system, you can standardize keying and color across an entire program rather than mixing one-off locks. That makes the Brady SafeKey purple and other-color siblings drop-in additions when you expand crew assignments.

Where the Brady SafeKey ALU-BLU-38ST-KD falls short

Expensive way to equip a crew

As a single lock at a premium price, this is not how you outfit a full maintenance team economically. For mass issuance, a keyed-different 10-pack or a TRADESAFE red 10-pack gives the same personal-protection model at a fraction of the per-unit cost.

KD is wrong for single-worker multi-point

Keyed different means one key per lock. If a single authorized worker locks out many points and wants one key to open all of them, you need a keyed-alike lock such as the ABUS 2ALHB/40-75, not this one.

Standard shackle, standard reach

The listing describes a standard SafeKey body; it is built for standard hasps. Deep, scissor, or stacked hasps may call for a long-shackle lock — see the long-shackle ABUS option when clearance is the constraint.

Editorial, not lab-tested

Our 4.5/5 reflects published Brady specifications and category fit, not in-house laboratory testing. We do not fabricate dielectric ratings or shackle clearances — confirm electrical-isolation suitability against Brady's published data and how to perform LOTO.

Brady SafeKey ALU-BLU-38ST-KD vs the competition

Compare prices on Amazon →Brady SafeKey ALU-BLU-38ST-KD on Amazon[Brady SafeKey ALU-PRP

When to step up from the Brady SafeKey ALU-BLU-38ST-KD

If your needs grow beyond one lock, the step-up depends on direction. To equip a crew, move to a keyed-different 10-pack or a TRADESAFE yellow set so each worker still gets a unique key at a lower per-unit cost. To cover deep or stacked hasps, step up to a long-shackle keyed-alike lock. To handle valve wheels and irregular geometry a rigid padlock cannot span, add cable lockouts such as the QWORK QS8899 steel cable locks. And to give a single worker a grab-and-go personal set of padlocks, hasps, and tags in one pouch, step up to the Brady 123143 compact LOTO kit.

Category context

Choosing within a LOTO program comes down to three decisions. First, device type: a padlock locks a single isolation point for one worker; a lockout hasp lets several workers each apply their own padlock to one point for group lockout; a cable lockout handles geometry a rigid lock cannot; and a lockout station or kit stages and stores those devices. Second, keying: keyed different (KD) — what this Brady ships as — gives every lock a unique key for true per-worker control, while keyed alike (KA) lets one key open a matched set, which suits a single worker isolating many points at once, as on the ABUS 2ALHB/40-75. Third, personal versus group: a personal lock plus a lockout tag identifies and protects one employee, whereas group lockout uses a hasp so the isolation point stays locked until the last worker removes their lock. The ALU-BLU-38ST-KD is firmly a personal, keyed-different padlock — see lockout vs tagout for why the lock, not the tag, is the energy-isolating device.

Total cost of ownership

Total cost of ownership favors durability and issuance math. A single premium SafeKey lock costs more up front than a budget padlock, but a recognized, standardized aluminum lock that survives daily carry and repeated hasp cycles is cheaper over years than replacing failed bargain locks. The trade-off appears when you scale: buying ten singles to equip a crew costs far more than one keyed-different 10-pack or a TRADESAFE red 10-pack, so reserve singles for replacements, new hires, and color-specific assignments. Whichever you choose, budget for the surrounding program — lockout tags, hasps, and a stocked lockout station — and read how to choose a lockout padlock so the spend maps to your actual isolation points across the full lockout/tagout range.

Final verdict

Buy the Brady SafeKey ALU-BLU-38ST-KD when you need a single, premium, individually-keyed personal lock and want blue assigned to a worker, trade, or shift in a color-coded program — the keyed-different configuration makes it a clean fit for personal energy control. If you are equipping a whole crew, choose a keyed-different 10-pack or a TRADESAFE multi-pack instead. Need one key for many locks? Go keyed-alike with the ABUS 2ALHB/40-75. Need a ready-to-carry personal set? The Brady 123143 kit bundles the essentials. Browse the full lockout padlocks range to match color and keying to your program.

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Brady SafeKey ALU-BLU-38ST-KD FAQ

What does keyed different (KD) mean on the Brady SafeKey ALU-BLU-38ST-KD?

Keyed different means this padlock's key opens only this lock and no other. That is the configuration the one-worker-one-lock-one-key model is built on, because each authorized employee controls the sole key to their own lock. It is the default choice for personal energy control under OSHA 1910.147.

Is the ALU-BLU-38ST-KD OSHA 1910.147 compliant?

As a durable, substantial, standardized, and identifiable single-purpose lockout padlock, it meets the device characteristics the standard requires for energy-isolating hardware. Compliance, though, is a function of your full procedure, not just the lock — see how to perform LOTO. The lock supports compliance; your written program and training complete it.

What is the difference between this keyed-different lock and a keyed-alike lock?

Keyed different gives every lock its own unique key for true per-worker control; keyed alike lets one key open a matched set of locks. KD suits individual workers each holding their own key; KA suits a single worker isolating multiple points at once, like the ABUS 2ALHB/40-75. Our guide on how to choose a lockout padlock covers when to use each.

Should I buy one ALU-BLU-38ST-KD or a multi-pack?

Buy the single when you need a replacement, a new-hire lock, or a specific blue assignment in a color-coded program. To equip a whole crew, a keyed-different 10-pack or a TRADESAFE 10-pack delivers the same personal-protection model at a much lower per-unit cost.

Why does the color of a lockout padlock matter?

Color is how mixed or rotating crews tell at a glance whose lock is on a hasp and which trade or shift owns an isolation. Assigning blue to a specific worker, trade, or shift brings discipline to a color-coded program. Brady's SafeKey line spans a full palette so you can standardize across the program.

Is the aluminum body non-conductive for electrical lockout?

The listing emphasizes a lightweight aluminum body; we do not fabricate a dielectric rating it does not state. For electrical isolation under 1910.333, confirm the conductivity properties against Brady's published specifications. If non-conductive construction is a hard requirement, the ABUS 74/40 is explicitly a non-conductive thermoplastic option.

How does this compare to the Brady SafeKey purple version?

The Brady SafeKey ALU-PRP-38ST-KD is the same aluminum SafeKey platform and keyed-different configuration, differing only in color. Choose color by your program's assignment scheme; the lock, keying, and platform are otherwise equivalent across the lockout padlocks range.

How does it compare to the Master Lock 410GRN?

The Master Lock 410GRN is a steel-bodied, non-rekeyable green safety padlock with unmatched brand recognition, while the SafeKey is a lighter aluminum lock on a scalable keyed system. Pick the aluminum SafeKey for daily-carry weight and program standardization, the steel Master Lock for maximum out-of-the-box recognizability.

Can I use this padlock for group lockout?

A single padlock locks one isolation point for one worker. Group lockout — several workers on one point — requires a lockout hasp, onto which each worker applies their own lock, including this one. The isolation point then stays locked until the last worker removes their padlock.

Is a lockout tag a substitute for this padlock?

No. A lockout tag identifies the worker and communicates the lockout, but a tag is not an energy-isolating device — only the padlock physically holds the isolation. Tagout-only is a weaker control; see lockout vs tagout for when each applies.

What if the hasp is too deep for the standard shackle?

The SafeKey ships with a standard body and shackle for standard hasps. For deep, scissor, or stacked hasps, step up to a long-shackle lock such as the ABUS 2ALHB/40-75. We do not quote a specific shackle clearance Brady's listing does not provide.

Does this lock work for valves and irregular equipment?

A rigid padlock alone cannot span a valve wheel or oversized handle. For that geometry, pair the program with a cable lockout such as the QWORK QS8899 steel cable locks, which loop around shapes a fixed shackle cannot reach.

Who should buy the ALU-BLU-38ST-KD?

Electricians, maintenance technicians, and contractors who need an individually-keyed personal lock, plus safety managers standardizing a color-coded program around blue. If you also want a grab-and-go personal device set, look at the Brady 123143 compact kit.

Is this a security padlock I can use on a gate or locker?

No — it is a single-purpose safety lockout padlock, not a general-security lock. Using LOTO locks for general security defeats their identifiability and is poor practice. Keep lockout devices reserved for energy control; review what is lockout/tagout.

How many locks does one worker need?

At minimum, one personal lock per worker for single-point isolation. Workers who routinely lock multiple points at once may prefer a keyed-alike set so one key opens all of them; everyone else is well served by a keyed-different lock like this one. Map your count to actual isolation points using how to choose a lockout padlock.

How durable is the SafeKey aluminum body over time?

Aluminum SafeKey locks are built for repeated daily carry and hasp cycles, which is why a recognized standardized lock often costs less over its life than replacing failed budget locks. We base this on Brady's category positioning rather than in-house lab testing; confirm against published specifications and your own program's wear experience.

Where does this lock fit in a complete LOTO program?

It is the personal padlock layer. Around it sit hasps for group lockout, cable lockouts for odd geometry, tags for identification, and a lockout station to stage everything — all part of the broader lockout/tagout devices range.