Which of the following is NOT a step in the Lock Out/Tag Out procedure?

The correct answer is the removal of safety guards because it is not a step in the Lock Out/Tag Out (LOTO) procedure. The LOTO procedure is designed to ensure that machines are properly shut off and unable to be started up again prior to the completion of maintenance or servicing work.

The main steps include planning and preparing for shutdown, verifying that the machine is effectively isolated from its energy source, and controlling stored energy (making sure that any potential energy is safely dissipated). Removing safety guards, however, is not considered a part of this procedure, as doing so could expose workers to hazards and negate the safety protocols in place. Instead, safety guards are integral components designed to protect workers during operation and maintenance, and should remain in place unless it is absolutely necessary to remove them for service, in which case additional safety measures would need to be followed.

This understanding reinforces the importance of maintaining safety standards and highlights that the LOTO procedure focuses on ensuring safety during the servicing of machinery without compromising existing safeguards.