What is an essential action to take when locking out machinery?

When locking out machinery, ensuring that all energy sources are cut off is crucial for the safety of all personnel involved. This action is fundamental to the lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedure, which is designed to prevent the accidental release of hazardous energy while maintenance or servicing of machinery is being performed. By cutting off all energy sources, which may include electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, thermal, and pneumatic energies, the risk of injury from unexpected machine operation is significantly minimized.

This step is critical because even a brief moment of energy release during maintenance can lead to severe accidents, including personal injury or fatalities. By following this procedure correctly, workers can safely perform repairs or maintenance on machinery without the risk of being exposed to dangerous conditions caused by residual energy.