CNC Router Lockout Tagout Procedures
Function
A CNC router is a cutting tool for wood and soft metal. Its cutting design is controlled by a computer program and monitored by a trained employee.
Safety
Lockout and tagout procedures are mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). They require employees to individually de-energize their work area, before any maintenance or contact with the machine, using locks and tags noting that the machine is powered off. For the safety of all employees, only the person working on the machine can energize it afterward.
Considerations
Careful training of employees is imperative so they learn how to de-energize their work station. The main power panel, not just an electrical switch, must be powered down and locked to prevent an accident that can be fatal, especially with the sharp spindle on a CNC router.
