What must be done before performing maintenance work on equipment?

Before performing maintenance work on equipment, it is crucial to stop and block the equipment against motion. This step ensures that the equipment is completely shut down and secured, minimizing the risk of accidental movement while maintenance is being conducted. By blocking the equipment, you create a safe work environment, thus protecting maintenance personnel from potential injuries caused by unexpected machine vibrations or operations.

Stopping the equipment and implementing locking or blocking mechanisms is a standard safety protocol in maintenance procedures. This practice is part of the Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) standards, which are designed to ensure that machinery is properly shut off and incapable of being restarted until maintenance work is completed. While notifying personnel, wearing protective gear, and checking tools are important steps in a maintenance procedure, they do not address the immediate priority of ensuring that the equipment is in a safe state before any hands-on work begins.