Normal Production Operations

Usually, if equipment service/maintenance is part of normal production operation, lockout/tagout is not required because other safeguards should already be in place for employees performing work. The same goes for minor tool changes/adjustments, or other minor servicing activities as long as they are routine, repetitive, and integral to equipment use—lockout/tagout is not required because other safeguards should already be in place. However, lockout/tagout IS required if an employee will have to:

• Remove or bypass machine guards or other safety devices,
• Place any part of their bodies in or near a machine's point of operation, or
• Place any part of their bodies in a danger zone associated with machine operations.