CPM Industrial Safety and Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Three mechanics are servicing the same conveyor under a group lockout. Per OSHA 1910.147, what is required of each mechanic?
- Only the lead mechanic applies a lock for the crew
- Each authorized employee affixes a personal lock or tag to the group device (Correct answer)
- The supervisor's lock covers everyone working on the job
- Each mechanic signs the permit but no personal lock is needed
Correct answer: Each authorized employee affixes a personal lock or tag to the group device
Group lockout requires each authorized employee to affix a personal lockout or tagout device to the group mechanism.
Question 2: After isolating the electric motor on a hydraulic press, what must be done before work begins?
- Nothing further; the motor is the only energy source
- Wait 30 seconds for pressure to drop on its own
- Relieve, disconnect, or restrain stored energy such as charged accumulators (Correct answer)
- Tag the hydraulic reservoir fill cap
Correct answer: Relieve, disconnect, or restrain stored energy such as charged accumulators
OSHA requires that stored or residual energy, such as hydraulic accumulator pressure, be relieved, disconnected, restrained, or otherwise made safe.
Question 3: After applying locks to a pump's disconnect, what is the correct next step before beginning maintenance?
- Verify isolation by attempting to start the equipment, then return controls to off (Correct answer)
- Remove the guard immediately since the lock is applied
- Notify the operator that work is complete
- Remove the fuses as a backup and skip verification
Correct answer: Verify isolation by attempting to start the equipment, then return controls to off
Verification (try-out) confirms the machine is isolated and de-energized before work begins.
Question 4: How often must the employer conduct periodic inspections of energy control procedures under 1910.147?
- Every 3 years
- Every 6 months
- Only after an incident
- At least annually (Correct answer)
Correct answer: At least annually
Periodic inspections of each energy control procedure must be performed at least annually by an authorized employee other than the one using it.
Question 5: A lockout must continue through a shift change. What does OSHA require?
- Remove all locks at shift end and reapply on the next shift
- Specific procedures for the orderly transfer of lockout protection between off-going and oncoming employees (Correct answer)
- The off-going mechanic leaves the lock and goes home
- A tag alone is sufficient during the transition
Correct answer: Specific procedures for the orderly transfer of lockout protection between off-going and oncoming employees
Shift or personnel changes require specific procedures that ensure continuous lockout protection during the transfer.
Question 6: A mechanic left the plant with their lock still on a machine. Under what condition may the employer remove it?
- Any supervisor may cut it after one hour
- A coworker may remove it if the job looks finished
- Only under a documented procedure that verifies the employee is not at the facility, attempts contact, and informs them before they resume work (Correct answer)
- It may never be removed by anyone else under any circumstance
Correct answer: Only under a documented procedure that verifies the employee is not at the facility, attempts contact, and informs them before they resume work
1910.147(e)(3) allows removal by the employer only under a specific procedure including verification, contact attempts, and notification.
Question 7: When is a tagout-only program permitted instead of lockout?
- When the energy-isolating device is not capable of being locked out, or full employee protection is demonstrated (Correct answer)
- Whenever the job will take less than 15 minutes
- Whenever the mechanic prefers tags
- Only for pneumatic equipment
Correct answer: When the energy-isolating device is not capable of being locked out, or full employee protection is demonstrated
Tagout alone is acceptable when devices cannot accept a lock or when the employer demonstrates tagout gives protection equivalent to lockout.
