If a machine's operation can cause injury, what must be done?

To ensure safety in the workplace, when a machine's operation presents a risk of injury, controlling or eliminating the hazard is the essential step to prioritize. This approach aligns with the hierarchy of controls in occupational safety and health, which emphasizes removing hazards or mitigating risks before considering other measures.

Controlling or eliminating hazards can involve redesigning the machine, implementing safety guards, or modifying the way a job is performed to reduce risks. By addressing the root cause of the hazard, you create a more secure work environment.

In contrast, while locking out a machine and using remote control operations can be effective safety measures under specific circumstances, they are typically considered secondary controls in the hierarchy. These measures do not address the underlying hazard directly but rather focus on preventing access to the risk during maintenance or operation. Thus, they may not be sufficient on their own if the hazard itself has not been adequately managed or removed.