Always _____ a piece of equipment before attempting a repair.

• A. Shutdown procedure
• B. Lockout/Tagout
• C. De-energize only
• D. Maintenance log

Answer: (B)

The main idea is preventing hazardous energy from feeding a machine while someone is working on it. Lockout/Tagout ensures that all energy sources are isolated and cannot be re-energized while repairs are done. It uses a physical lock to hold energy-disconnecting devices in the off position and a tag to warn others that maintenance is in progress. This approach covers electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, gravity, and other stored or residual energies, keeping the equipment safe until the worker is finished and removes their lock.

Simply shutting down the machine may not stop all energy sources or secure it against someone re-energizing it. Removing power without locking out can leave stored energy, and others might restart the machine unexpectedly. De-energize-only overlooks stored energy and doesn’t provide ongoing protection. A maintenance log records activity but does not control energy or prevent startup. So, applying Lockout/Tagout is the reliable method to ensure the equipment stays safely de-energized during repairs.