Dive into the 2025 NY Wastewater Exam – Flush Away the Competition with Confidence!

Ensuring safety before working on equipment is critical in any operational setting, especially in wastewater management. The correct approach involves shutting down the equipment, locking it out, and tagging it to prevent accidental reactivation. This process, known as Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), safeguards workers by guaranteeing that machinery will not be unintentionally started up while maintenance or repair work is being conducted.

Locking out the equipment involves physically disabling it, while tagging it provides information to others that the equipment should not be operated. This practice is essential in promoting a safe working environment as it significantly reduces the risk of injury that can occur from unexpected machine movements or starts.

In contrast, the other options, such as running the equipment, cleaning it, or calibrating sensors, do not provide a safety measure. Running equipment typically poses a risk, especially if maintenance is needed. Cleaning can create hazards as well, especially if it involves touching parts that are powered on. Calibration, while important for operation, should not occur until all safety precautions, including LOTO, are in place. Thus, the importance of shutting down, locking out, and tagging to guarantee the safety of personnel cannot be overstated.