Red Seal Industrial Electrician Practice Exam

What does 'lockout/tagout' (LOTO) procedure ensure?

1. All machines are painted yellow

2. All operators are qualified

3. Machines are shut off and not restarted before maintenance

4. Machines are constantly monitored

The correct answer is: Machines are shut off and not restarted before maintenance

The 'lockout/tagout' (LOTO) procedure is crucial for ensuring the safety of workers during maintenance and servicing of machinery. It involves a specific process where machines are shut down and isolated from their energy sources, and locked out or tagged to prevent accidental re-energization while maintenance work is being performed. This practice is vital because it protects employees from the sudden release of hazardous energy that could occur if a machine were to be inadvertently started while someone is working on it. By ensuring that machines are completely powered down and secured against unintended startup, LOTO procedures significantly reduce the risk of injuries in the workplace. Focusing on the other options, painting machines yellow does not contribute to safety in the context of LOTO procedures; it's more about visual management. While operator qualifications are important, simply having qualified operators does not eliminate the risks associated with unexpected machine startup. Continuous monitoring may be relevant for operational safety but does not pertain specifically to the secure isolation and shutdown of machines associated with LOTO practices.