What is one reason to review LOTO procedures before performing maintenance on equipment?

Reviewing Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures before performing maintenance on equipment is crucial for ensuring the safety of maintenance personnel. One of the primary reasons for this review is to understand the energy sources present on the equipment. This knowledge is essential because equipment can have various energy sources, including electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal, and stored energy.

By understanding these energy sources, maintenance workers can identify the specific risks involved and implement appropriate measures to control those hazards. This ensures that all energy sources are properly isolated and cannot inadvertently be re-energized while maintenance work is being carried out. The goal of LOTO procedures is to protect employees from accidents that could result in injuries or fatalities due to unexpected energization of machinery or the release of stored energy.

While gathering maintenance tools and preparing reports are important tasks in the maintenance process, they do not directly impact safety in the same way that understanding energy sources does. Similarly, completing training for new employees is necessary but typically happens before maintenance work and does not replace the need for a thorough review of LOTO procedures specific to the equipment being serviced.