Which practice prevents accidental startup?

• A. Lockout/Tagout
• B. OSHA
• C. Torque
• D. Caliper

Answer: (A)

Preventing accidental startup comes from making sure a machine cannot be energized while someone is servicing it. Lockout/Tagout is the specific practice used to achieve this. It involves locking energy-control points so the equipment cannot be powered on, and tagging the locks with warnings to indicate that service is in progress. A proper procedure has you identify all energy sources, shut down the equipment, isolate those sources, apply a lock (and a tag) by the person performing the work, verify that there is no energy present, and then only remove the lock when the work is finished and it's safe to re-energize. This directly prevents unexpected energization and startup, protecting workers from electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, or mechanical hazards. OSHA sets the standards for how these programs must be implemented, but the practice itself is what blocks startup. The other terms refer to safety regulations or unrelated tools, which don’t by themselves stop a machine from starting.