What must be done to machinery before performing maintenance?

Before performing maintenance on machinery, it is essential to lockout/tagout the machinery. This process is a critical safety procedure that ensures maintenance workers are protected from accidental machine start-up while they are working on it. Lockout/tagout requires deactivating equipment and securing it in a way that it cannot be operated until maintenance is complete. This typically involves using physical locks and tags to communicate that the machinery is not to be used until it is safe for maintenance personnel.

This practice is vital for preventing injuries that can occur from unexpected machine movements or releases of stored energy. Therefore, implementing lockout/tagout procedures forms the foundation of safe maintenance practices and follows regulatory standards designed to protect workers in various industries.

Other options, such as checking battery levels, lubricating moving parts, or calibrating settings, are important tasks but are secondary to ensuring that the machine is completely de-energized and secure. Performing those actions without first locking and tagging out the machinery could lead to accidents, making the lockout/tagout process the critical first step in any maintenance procedure.